GUIDELINES IN DISASTER AND EMERGENCY What is MHPSS?

SITUATION
Mental health and psychosocial support refer to any
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in type of local or outside support that aims to protect
Emergency Settings or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or
treat mental disorder.
 It is a state of mental well-being that
enables people to cope with the stresses of Characteristics of Psychosocial Support
life, realize their abilities, learn well and work
 Mobilizes the power of humanity
well, and contribute to their community.
 Relieves emotional and physical suffering
 It is an integral component of health and well-  Improves a person’s immediate ability to
being that underpins our individual and function under stress
collective abilities to make decisions, build  Reduce long-term negative psychological
relationships and shape the world we live in. effects

 Mental health is a basic human right. Purposes of Providing Psychosocial Support

1. Promoting connectedness
2. Promoting hope
People with Increased Risk of Problems that may 3. Promoting a sense of self and collective
affect Mental Health efficacy
4. Promoting calmness
5. Promoting a sense of safety

MHPSS IN DISASTER

Disaster and conflict often cause substantial damages

to materials and human life. While material can be
fixed or replaced, mental wound is often kept
secretly and need more time to heal from.

Why do we provide MHPSS?

MHPSS can reduce stress, strengthen and use

protective factors to help people affected by
Impacts of Disaster emotional crises TO RECOVER.

 Unemployment Providing early and adequate MHPSS can prevent

 Loss of Family members, Relatives and Friends distress and suffering from developing into something
 Financial hardship more severe.
 Loss of human functioning
 Damage to property Guidelines to enable humanitarian to plan, establish and
 Deterioration of health and health services coordinate set of minimum responses to protect and
 Limited access to some of the basic human improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well –
needs being in the midst of an emergency.
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL- can create high distress, 1. Focus on re-establish security, safety & basic
anxiety, traumatic stress etc. services (water, food, shelter & health services) –
FAMILY LEVEL- can interrupt family life and advocacy for basic services that are safe, socially
separation of children from families, family financial appropriate & protect dignity.
hardships etc. 2. Promote and / or provide everyday activities such
as schooling, activating social net
COMMUNITY LEVEL- people need to be displaced, 3. Provide onsite for psychological first aid, basic
community traditional events, festival, social life and mental health care by trained primary healthcare
other kind of activities can be disrupted. doctors or refer for outside service, provide
activities in child friendly spaces to support for
Common Reaction to Disaster
basic emotional & other practical support as
Majority of people show some change after a needed.
traumatic / distressing event. 4. Services provide by mental healthcare specialists
(psychiatric, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists,
These reactions are normal and psychological stress
etc.) Child Friendly Service workers refer person
will improve over time (DEAR)
to specialist services for diagnosis & support for
Not everybody will be traumatized by those events. those 6-8 weeks after emergence if still not
showing signs of improvement.
The majority will be distressed, only a small number
will be chronic traumatized.

What is Psychological First Aids (PFA)
It is a humane and supportive response to a fellow
human being who is suffering and who may need
support.
It is an acute intervention of choice when responding
to the psychosocial needs of children, adults and
families affected by disaster and pandemic.
Psychological First Aid is “not”
 Not something only professionals can do
 Not psychological debriefing
 Not professional counselling or therapy
 Not encouraging a detailed discussion of the
event that has caused the distress, traumatic
experiences and losses
 Not pressing someone to talk for details on
what happened
 Not pressuring people to share their feelings
and reactions to an event.
 Not something that everybody who has been
affected by an emergency will need.
Who may benefit from PFA?
 Very distressed people who were recently
exposed to a serious stressful event
 Can be provided to adults and children,
adolescents, parents/caretakers, families who
have recently experienced a crisis event and
are distressed
 Not everyone who experiences a crisis event
will need or want PFA
 Don’t force help on those who don’t want it, but
make yourself available and easily accessible to
those who may want support
Where should PFA be provided?
PFA can be provided anywhere or place where it is safe
and had some privacy for you and affected people when
appropriate. (shelters, temporary housing, assistance
center, crisis and emergency hotline, etc..)
Privacy is essential for confidentiality and to respect
the person’s dignity, for those who have been exposed
to certain types of crisis events such as sexual
violence.
Ethical consideration when providing PFA
DO’S
 Be honest and trustworthy.
 Respect people’s right to make their own
decisions.
 Be aware of and set aside your own biases and
prejudices.
 Make it clear to people that even if they
refuse help now, they can still access help in
the future.
 Respect privacy and keep the person’s story
confidential, if this is appropriate.
 Behave appropriately by considering the
person’s culture, age and gender.
DONT’S
 Don’t exploit your relationship as a helper.
 Don’t ask the person for any money or favor for
helping them.
 Don’t make false promises or give false
information.
 Don’t exaggerate your skills.
 Don’t force help on people, and don’t be intrusive
or pushy.
 Don’t pressure people to tell you their story.
 Don’t share the person’s story with others.
 Don’t judge the person for their actions or
feelings.
3 Basic Action Principles of PFA
Look
 Check for safety.
 Check for people with obvious urgent basic
needs.
 Check for people with serious distress
reactions.
Listen
 Approach people who may need support.
 Ask about people’s needs and concerns.
 Listen to people and help them to feel calm.
Link
 Help people address basic needs and access
services.
 Help people cope with problems.
 Give information.
 Connect people with loved ones and social
support.
 Roles of helper in delivering PFA and MHPSS  Another 2 Liters are needed to sterilize the
bottles and teats.
At any time while interacting with person and their
family, the helper applies companionate and respectful WHY 2b. Due to contamination of water
communication.
WHY 3. Due to mode of feeding and lack of supporting
When psychosocial issue is identified, the helper resources
provides specific psychosocial support to the person
 Bottles and teats are difficult to sterilize.
by using his/her skills.
 Esp. with lack of water, fuel, equipment, etc.
Essential skills and quality of those who offering
WHY 4. Due to infant formula being prepared
PFA and MHPSS incorrectly (over or under diluted)
 Listening skills Reasons:
 Accountable
 Communication 1) Financial Concerns
 Approachability 2) Lack of Knowledge
 Politeness
WHY 5. Infant Formula does not have the
 Empathy
protective properties of breastmilk
 Patience •
 Non-judgmental approach
 Commitment
BREASTFEEDING
 Caring attitude
 Not taking advantage from vulnerable It remains the best infant feeding option in a natural
 Trustworthiness people disaster situation.
 Reliable
Breast milk helps protect babies from diseases such as
 Honesty
diarrhea and respiratory infections and provides the
 Kindness
calories and nutrients babies need.
INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING IN
EMERGENCIES AND DISASTER SITUATION
Mag-BREASTFEEDING TSEK para NUTRISYON ni
Baby ay TSEK
IYCF-E
REMEMBER
Concerns the protection and support of safe and
1. Perform hand washing before feeding.
appropriate feeding for infants and young children
2. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at
in all types of emergencies, with the goal of
least 70% alcohol.
safeguarding their survival, health and growth.
3. Learn the skills in expressing breast milk.
Promotion and protection of breastfeeding. 4. Continue breastfeeding in emergency
situation.
The well-being of mothers (nutritional, mental, and
physical health) is critical to the well-being of their
children. LEGAL BASIS

Why does IYCF-E Matter? RA 11148 SERIES OF 2008

“Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act"
Infants and Young Children are the MOST Vulnerable
 This Act covers those who are nutritionally-at-
Even in healthy populations, CHILD MORTALITY can
risk, especially pregnant and lactating women,
increase by 20%
particularly teenage mothers, women of
In emergencies, rates of CHILD MORTALITY can soar reproductive age, adolescent girls, and all
from 2-70 times higher than average Filipino children who are newly born up to age
twenty-four (24) months.
Emergencies can happen ANYWHERE
 Nutrition intervention programs in the first
IYCF-E is relevant in ALL EMERGENCIES one thousand (1,000) days implemented.

Why is there high infant mortality and morbidity First 1000 days
due to emergencies compared to breast feeding?
 Provides the enabling environment for the
WHY 1. Due to contamination of formula sustained provision of critical early child care
interventions for the first 1000 days of a
WHY 2a. Due to lack of water
child's life, for optimal growth and
NOTE: development.

 A 3-month-old bottle fed baby needs 1 Liter of

water per day to mix with the formula powder.
Importance of First 1000 days

This is a time when their brain, body and immune

system grows and develops significantly.

Children are born ready to learn and some of the best

learning comes from nurturing relationships.

Early experiences affect the nature and quality of the

brain's developing architecture.

EO 51: MILK CODE

PAG-ASA RAINFALL WARNING SYSTEM

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and

Astronomical Services Administration (PAG ASA)

 Philippine national institution dedicated to

providing flood and typhoon warnings, pubic
weather forecasts, and advisories for the
protection of life and property and in support
of economic, productivity and sustainable
development.

NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (NDRRMC)

 Government's arm in disaster preparedness.

 Early warning system through SMS
NOTIFICATIONS
 Informs everyone about impending typhoons,
torrential rain, flooding and earthquake with
SMS MESSAGES.

RA 10369 - FREE MOBILE DISASTER ALERT ACT

Why rainfall warning alerts be so loud and panic-

inducing?