@article{e90883a985f9430bbe0f0dacfbc1287a,
title = "Ensuring equity in mental health and psychosocial support during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond",
abstract = "Populations affected by armed conflict and other humanitarian crises are at elevated risk for mental health problems. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had broadly deleterious effects on livelihoods, economic well-being, and population health worldwide, vulnerable groups have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services during these times to vulnerable groups, especially in low- and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings, is essential. In an effort to comply with the public health response to the pandemic and mitigate COVID-19 transmission, significant implementation adaptations were made to service delivery during the pandemic. This short report describes several strategies to ensure that equity was central to these adaptations and public health responses, and provides recommendations for ensuring continuity of this progress post-pandemic. Examples and key lessons learned are given related to strategies to increase access to MHPSS services, improve meaningful stakeholder engagement, develop and support community networks, and implement community-based psychosocial support groups. They come from diverse settings of Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, and Lebanon. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of preventing and treating MHPSS issues. It also has created opportunities for innovative programming to address overlooked problems, improve the quality of services provided, and increase focus on equity. It is vital that we use the momentum and attention generated around MHPSS services during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to build and improve existing MHPSS services in more equitable ways for vulnerable populations.",
keywords = "Adaptations, COVID-19, Disparities, Equity, Humanitarian, Low- and middle-income countries, Mental health, Psychosocial support",
author = "{MHPSS Implementation Science Learning Collaborative} and Andrea Armijos and Bonz, {Annie G.} and Brown, {Felicity L.} and Danielle Charlet and Flora Cohen and Greene, {M. Claire} and Sabrina Hermosilla and James, {Leah E.} and {Le Roch}, Karine",
note = "Funding Information: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of preventing and treating MHPSS-related issues and has created opportunities for innovative programming approaches and new research that addresses commonly overlooked problems and has the potential to improve the quality of services provided even beyond the COVID-19 emergency context [–]. Access to knowledge and the necessity to provide MHPSS services has heightened alongside growing global interest from communities of practice within health and other sectors. The case studies presented in this paper provide examples of such opportunities. Donors{\textquoteright} awareness of the importance of funding MHPSS programming, which is increasingly supported by Ministries of Health worldwide [–], has also grown. In this time of increased needs, awareness, and opportunities, it is essential that we consider equity issues in all stages of program design, implementation, and evaluation of MHPSS services. Existing equity frameworks [–] could serve as tools to operationalize equity considerations, as we consider adopting innovations into routine practice in order for MHPSS to truly build back better and fairer. Funding Information: This study was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Health Evaluation and Applied Research Development (HEARD), Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-17-00002. This study is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The findings of this study are the sole responsibility of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",
year = "2023",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1186/s13031-023-00500-5",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "17",
journal = "Conflict and Health",
issn = "1752-1505",
publisher = "BioMed Central",
number = "1",
}