WHO CARES ABOUT THE HELPERS?

It was via the EU-funded IPP project on “Increasing Knowledge and Partnerships on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Helpers in Pandemics” (2021-2022) that a first spotlight was put on the needs of helpers in pandemics in Armenia and Georgia. A study on helpers’ needs was conducted and highlighted the increasing importance of MHPSS for responders in complex environments. Also regional and national MHPSS networks were established, a MHPSS resource library created, and awareness raised on responders’ needs.

To close some of the gaps revealed during the IPP project and to include the dimension of armed conflicts with regards to MHPSS for helpers in Armenia, Georgia and the Ukraine project partners including Red Cross partners and academic partners gathered virtually for the kick-off meeting of the EU-funded Who Cares project on “Increasing Knowledge and Partnerships on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Helpers in Pandemics and Conflicts” from 7-8 February 2023.

To bridge the gap between science and practice, representatives of the Armenian Red Cross Society, the Austrian Red Cross, the Georgia Red Cross Society, the University of Innsbruck, Ilia State University, Tbilisi State University and the University of Kyiv discussed together with associated beneficiaries such as the IFRC Country Cluster Office South Caucasus how best to ensure evidence based MHPSS for helpers in conflicts and pandemics.

Collecting evidence on MHPSS for helpers in high-risk zones, where responders are affected by the conflict themselves including the witnessing of extreme forms of violence, as well as for helpers in low-risk zones, where responders find themselves confronted with people in refugee-like situations or are confronted with specific types of refugees, is at the heart of this project as is the piloting of training concepts to create a link between knowledge collected and capacity building.

Another central feature in the Who Cares project are the regional and national MHPSS networks. Established networks in the South Caucasus will be extended and a new MHPSS network will be formalized in the Ukraine. These networks will not only contribute with collected materials on MHPSS for helpers to the online media library, but also with their expertise and best practices to various project activities.

Additionally, a media and social media campaign with tailored key messages around the needs of helpers will support project visibility, increase awareness about responders’ needs in conflicts and pandemics, and help helpers help themselves by bringing the Who Cares resource library to their attention. To guarantee the sustainability of the Who Cares library options of transferring its materials to the UCPKN Platform Knowledge Library will be explored. Altogether the project aims at reaching approx. 1 mil. people via its campaign and visibility activities.

Altogether, the Who Cares project provides an opportunity for project partners, associated beneficiaries and network partners alike to make a difference in the lives of helpers and the field of MHPSS. Enabled by the EU and simply because WE CARE.