Integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is essential for effective disaster response and recovery, and incorporating it as part of disaster response helps save lives and supports recovery. Yet only 28% of WHO Member States report having a system in place for MHPSS preparedness.
To address the MHPSS gap in disaster responses, WHO has organized capacity-building “Build Better Before” global workshops and full-scale, multisectoral field-based simulation exercises to scale up MHPSS operational readiness across humanitarian actors and Member States.
Since 2020, the WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre – WKC) has funded MHPSS research within its programme on health emergency and disaster risk management, and this work has informed WHO’s global MHPSS initiatives. In collaboration with WHO’s Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use Department in Geneva, WKC has supported five “Build Better Before” activities: twice in Tunisia, Estonia, Türkiye and Ethiopia. For the sixth time, WKC Technical Officer Dr Ryoma Kayano, will support the upcoming event in Ethiopia in December.
Based on this expertise, WKC hosted an expert and stakeholder meeting in October in Kobe, Japan, on “Strengthening MHPSS in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery” for over 20 experts and policymakers from Japan and abroad to discuss enhancing MHPSS systems in Japan and the Western Pacific region.
The meeting reviewed existing global evidence on MHPSS, and Japan’s experience in mental health support during disasters, including data-driven research and community-based mental health systems. Participants stressed the need to strengthen MHPSS through collaboration across multiple sectors, including health, education and welfare.
Discussions also explored the possibility of Japan hosting the first global “Build Better Before” training in the Asia and Western Pacific region. Participants affirmed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration with Japanese and international partners and deepen engagement with regional and global MHPSS-related initiatives by WHO.
For more details on our MHPSS work, please visit Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
AloJapan.com