When the rivers rose: Despite mud, washed-out roads and blackouts, Indonesia Red Cross volunteers delivered clean water, health and a ray of hope

The IFRC warns of growing psychological toll on children and families one month after Hurricane Melissa

Kingston/Panama/Geneva. 28 November 2025 - One month after Hurricane Melissa, people continue to report significant psychological impacts, including high levels of stress, anxiety, persistent fear, sleep disturbances, and grief linked to the loss of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. Thousands across the affected regions are seeking psychosocial support, with demand increasing as families confront the long-term emotional toll of the disaster, reports the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).In Jamaica, children are showing a wide range of emotional reactions, including fear of the dark and heightened sensitivity to rain or wind. Some have become unusually quiet or irritable, while others are more clingy, fearful of separation, or noticeably hyperactive as they try to cope with the ongoing sense of insecurity.“While physical wounds may heal and houses can be rebuilt with time, emotional wounds can linger long after the crisis is over. Mental health and psychosocial support programs are among the least expensive interventions in humanitarian response, yet their impact is priceless,” said Dorothy Francis, Head of Operations at the IFRC in Jamaica. “It is critical to ensure the resources needed not only for psychological first aid, but also for psychoeducation, child-friendly activities, and group sessions tailored to community needs.”The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for 19 million Swiss francs (approximately USD 23 million) to support 180,000 people affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, and an additional appeal for 15 million Swiss francs (USD 18 million) to assist the Cuban Red Cross in supporting 100,000 people. This funding will strengthen MHPSS interventions across all response activities, ensuring that communities receive practical, emotional, and psychological support throughout the recovery process.Red Cross volunteers and specialists are providing essential mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to adults and children affected by the hurricane. This includes psychological first aid, community-based support sessions, child-friendly activities, and referrals to specialized care when needed.Activities such as games, drawing, storytelling, music, movement, and breathing exercises support emotional expression and stress reduction. For those more deeply affected, focused group sessions offer grounding techniques, relaxation exercises, psychoeducation on common stress reactions, and safe spaces to share coping strategies and regain a sense of control. Parents also receive guidance to understand their children’s emotional needs and support healthy coping. Across all these actions, the goal is to restore safety, a sense of normalcy, and meaningful connection within the community.In Cuba, Red Cross teams are also distributing mosquito kits — an intervention that goes beyond disease prevention. By protecting families from mosquito bites and creating a safer sleeping environment, the kits help improve sleep hygiene, which is essential for emotional well-being and recovery after a traumatic event.Julio Martinez, Head of Psychosocial Support for the Cuban Red Cross, has been leading sessions with children in the community of El Aguacate. He describes how simple activities such as coloring help children express their emotions and begin to heal. “The colors reflect what the child feels in that moment. Children express themselves openly and clearly, and their drawings often reveal what is happening within the family,” he said.MHPSS is also central to building back stronger. “After the storm, people face difficult decisions— how to rebuild, return to work, and support their children,” Martinez added. “Resilience becomes essential, and psychosocial support is key to helping communities recover and rebuild that strength. No one emerges untouched; everyone is psychologically affected, so mental health cannot be overlooked.”In Cuba, Yaricel Martínez González experienced the effects of Hurricane Melissa firsthand. Before the storm, she was part of a community of fisherfolk.“To see everything we had achieved through years of effort and sacrifice collapse in just a few hours was deeply devastating for us,” mentions Yaricel. “My own mother would start crying every day at two in the morning, and I felt a knot in my throat, as if I couldn’t breathe. When something so drastic happens, you think you’ll never sleep again, never recover. But we are living proof that the techniques provided by the Red Cross do help. They taught us ways to breathe better, relieve stress, and sleep more peacefully. Even the children benefited, using drawings to express the sadness they felt from Melissa’s passing.”Note to editors:Visuals: Additional photos and video available here.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Panama:Maria Victoria Langman, +507 6550-1090Susana Arroyo Barrantes, +507 6999-3199In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Nora Peter, +36 70 953 7709 

Limited international support compromises recovery of population affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba

Santiago de Cuba/Panama/Geneva, 21 November 2025 - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned that the humanitarian needs of the population affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba are growing faster than the international support required to provide short- and medium-term humanitarian assistance.Three weeks after Melissa made landfall in Cuba, data from the Civil Defence and the United Nations System indicate that more than 2.2 million people were affected, mainly in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguín. In addition, the loss of more than 150,000 hectares of crops threatens food security, and damage to more than 155,000 homes exposes the population to the dengue, oropouche and chikungunya epidemics declared in the country. In addition, power cuts are limiting the operation of water plants and health services, especially in Santiago de Cuba, where 500,000 people still have no access to electricity."Countless families have lost everything: roofs, mattresses, food, animals, items that are essential for survival with well-being and dignity," said Carlos Pérez Díaz, executive president of the Cuban Red Cross. "From the very first minute, Cuban Red Cross teams have been travelling through the areas most affected by Melissa, distributing aid and offering psychosocial support, but our efforts fall short given the magnitude of the needs we encounter, especially in rural areas and in the coastal area where Melissa made landfall."The first 20 tonnes of aid from the IFRC, which arrived in Cuba by air on 2 November, have already been distributed in full by Cuban Red Cross volunteers. This shipment included kitchen, hygiene and rest kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, plastic sheeting and tool kits. These items were delivered to families whose homes were destroyed, elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, and pregnant women or women with children or dependents in their care. "The pre-positioning of humanitarian supplies at our logistics hub in Panama allowed us to dispatch vital aid within the first 72 hours after Hurricane Melissa struck, and the organisational and coordination capacity of the Cuban Red Cross enabled us to distribute it in record time," said Cristian Torres Bermeo, IFRC Deputy Director for the Americas. "We have the experience, operational capacity and local presence necessary to reach the areas most in need, but we require more financial support to reach the thousands of families who still require urgent assistance and, as soon as conditions allow, to move on to the early recovery phase."On 31 October, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal requesting 15 million Swiss francs (18 million USD) to provide two years of emergency assistance, early recovery and long-term resilience support to 100,000 people. Contributions received by the organisation amount to only 16.3% of the required amount, while needs on the island continue to rise.The IFRC's international appeal will remain open for the next 24 months. Governments, businesses, foundations and even individuals can contribute resources that will enable communities to rebuild their homes, protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases, take care of their mental health, resume productive activities, rely on solar energy to cope with power cuts and prepare for the next hurricane season.The IFRC has a strong track record in implementing humanitarian operations in Cuba. Working hand in hand with the Cuban Red Cross – and its network of more than 35,000 volunteers – and in coordination with public authorities and national and international humanitarian actors, it has responded to dozens of hurricanes and storms, including Ian, Oscar, Rafael, Matthew, Irma and Sandy, always guided by its fundamental principles and with interventions based on needs assessments and dialogue with the affected communities. For further information or interviews, please write to [email protected] or contact In Santiago de CubaSusana Arroyo Barrantes, +507 69993199In PanamaMaría Victoria Langman, +507 65501090In GenevaNora Peter +36 70 953 7709

15 days of action: Well before Hurricane Melissa struck, the Red Cross was on full alert, helping people get ready. Now, they’re at the heart of the response

For the people who lived through Hurricane Melissa, it was a storm like no other they had ever experienced.Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on 28 October as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds exceeding 160 mph, making it the most severe storm to hit the island in known history. Then, itmoved eastward towards Cuba, where it struck twelve hours later as a Category 3 hurricane.Fortunately, the severity of the hurricane was not entirely unexpected. Thanks to forecasts, the Red Cross network in the region had already begun preparing for the storm. A week before landfall, when the first weather forecasts showed the formation of Hurricane Melissa and its possible paths in the central Caribbean, the Red Cross was already active, coordinating with local groups and agencies, warning the communities and helping them prepare, and placing critical supplies in places where they were likely to be needed most. Local Red Cross teams in Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, activated their contingency plans and began preparing communities for what would become one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. The damage in Jamaica was devastating. The government estimates that losses amount to around 30 percent of the national GDP. Flooding destroyed roads and damaged crops, leaving more than 70 percent of the population without electricity. Around 7,200 people sought shelter in the 881shelters that were opened across the country, eight of which are still being managed by the Jamaican Red Cross.“It was very traumatic. I lost my storeroom, my shed down there, and the water in the gully was rising. When I peeped through the window and saw the kind of breeze along with the rain, it was very traumatic,” says Mr. Lawrence, Doctor, former Emergency Chair for the Red Cross St Elizabeth branch. “As you can see, all my fruit trees have died. The fish that I feed every morning they turned over, they all swam away.”In Cuba, winds of up to 195 km/h and heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, interrupting basic services. It is estimated that 2.2 million people have been severely affected.“We were not able to arrive to Santiago because the road is blocked by what is full of water,” said Nicolás Segura, IFRC’s Disaster Response Coordinator for the Latin Caribbean.“We were able to see a lot of damage, a lot of devastation, a lot of dead animals on the road and also a couple of road accidents and people trying to get to their houses, trying to recover everything.”Anticipatory action saves livesIn Jamaica, the Red Cross launched preventive measures in eight high-risk parishes, supported by the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF). Volunteers visited at-risk communities to disseminate early warning messages, prepared shelters and distributed essential items.. Thanks to these measures, more than 300 people and five institutions received essential non-food items and preparedness support well before the storm made landfall.Meanwhile, the Cuban Red Cross activated its contingency plan for hydrometeorological events, deploying staff and volunteers to vulnerable areas. They reinforced community communications, checked evacuation centres and pre-positioned humanitarian aid kits and rescue equipment in provinces such as Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Holguín. This advance preparation meant that, when Melissa finally made landfall, both National Societies were ready to respond immediately without wasting any critical time. From day one, teams on both islands have been working tirelessly. The Jamaica Red Cross mobilised 400 volunteers and immediately distributed 750 blankets, 250 cleaning kits, 250 hygiene kits, 250 shelter tool kits and 500 tarpaulins. In Cuba, specialised brigades have supported evacuations, rescued over 500 people, and provided psychosocial support to families in crisis.International appeals for recovery supportThe scale of the disaster has prompted the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to launch two emergency appeals to strengthen operations in both countries. The emergency appeal in Jamaica aims to raise 19 million Swiss francs (US$23 million) to assist 180,000 people over the next two years. The operation will provide shelter, livelihoods, and cashassistance, helping families rebuild safely and recover with dignity.Special attention will be given to single mothers, families with young children or older adults, and people with disabilities. All interventions will be guided by protection, gender inclusion and community engagement and accountability, ensuring that assistance is fair and transparent, and helping communities prepare for future climate crises. In Cuba, the emergency appeal aims to raise CHF 15 million (USD 18 million) to support 100,000 people in the worst-affected provinces. The operation combines emergency relief, early recovery, and long-term resilience, helping families rebuild homes, restore safe water, and recover their health and livelihoods.This two-year appeal invests in climate-resilient reconstruction. Families will receive roofing kits, tools, and training in safe, sustainable building techniques, along with solar-powered water systems to secure clean water even when power fails. The goal: help communities recover today and then have what they need to resist tomorrow’s storms.Active global networkIn the seven days following the storm, the Red Cross's global network delivered over 180 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to the Caribbean. These included shelter kits, cleaning kits, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, buckets and blankets. On Sunday, 2 November, an IFRC charter flight landed in Santiago de Cuba with the first 20 tons of humanitarian aid for those affected by Hurricane Melissa. 'We are in the warehouses where we have our 20-tonne load of humanitarian aid that arrived recently. Our objective is to check it and establish distribution guidelines', said Luis Enrique Calderón Rodríguez on 4 November. He is the Head of Operations and Rescue at the Cuban Red Cross. 'We have already verified that the loads are ready and that we can begin delivering to families today.'This shipmentenables the Cuban Red Cross to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 1,500 people in the most affected areas, including kitchen kits, hygiene kits, bedding, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, shelter tool kits and plastic sheeting.In Jamaica, 160 tons of Red Cross humanitarian aid arrived in the seven days following Melissa's landfall. Shipments reinforce local distribution, enabling thousands of families to receive hygiene, cleaning, and cooking items in the early days of the emergency. These actions were made possible by international solidarity. The Canadian Red Cross, the French Red Cross's Regional Intervention Platform of the Americas-Caribbean (PIRAC) and the IFRC's Regional Logistics Centre in Panama coordinated the shipment of supplies by air and sea to ensure aid reached those most in need quickly. Volunteers from the Cuban and Jamaican Red Cross Societies, meanwhile, are still extremely busy throughout the region, carrying out damage and needs assessments, distributing emergency supplies, cleaning up and providing emotional support.Helping people cope with shock and lossNot all the support being provided comes in the form of physical goods or supplies.There is a strong and widespread need for psychosocial support in the worst-affected communities, including among Red Cross members. Volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly for days. Some volunteers have seen their homes completely destroyed.“We recognise that there is a very real and strong need for health services, medical care, and psychosocial support,” said Ruth Howard to BBC on October 31, Howard is the Deputy Public Relations Chair for the Jamaica Red Cross. “The psychosocial support is essential, because this has been one of the most traumatic events that many of our people have ever experienced in their lives,” she continued.Yet they continue to support those most in need, demonstrating that Red Cross help begins in communities. Every kit delivered, every safe evacuation and every hug of support is made possible by these dedicated volunteers. Hurricane Melissa reminded us once again that preparedness saves lives. The anticipatory actions implemented before the storm made landfall proved their effectiveness, making the difference between total devastation and resilience. Over the next months, the IFRC and the National Societies of Jamaica and Cuba will continue to collaborate to bolster community resilience in the face of future climate events.

Healing far from home: The Egyptian Red Crescent’s lifeline for Gaza’s evacuees

Jordan Red Crescent Hospital brings hope, safety and new life to Gaza’s children

On the first floor of the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital in Amman, the shy smiles of Gaza’s children—who were evacuated for medical reasons last September from the Gaza Strip—intersect with pain beyond their years.Their timid smiles conceal memories of a brutal conflict ongoing for two years, leaving them with invisible and unforgettable wounds. Loss, hunger, bombing, and repeated displacement have made childhood a deferred dream, and even the simplest right to education a rare luxury.The pain is not just a story from the past; it is a daily reality for these children, who suffer from spinal injuries, loss of sight, physical disabilities, and chronic illnesses that weigh down their small bodies that have barely begun to grow."We received several children from Gaza suffering from severe spinal cord and spine injuries,” saysDr. Qasim Sallam, a general practitioner at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital. “We conducted the necessary examinations under specialist supervision and also provided social care to their companions.""Once the children feel they are in a safe place, their psychological condition begins to improve. We notice a big difference between the moment they arrive and today."Asmaa Abu Ghosh, the psychosocial support officer at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital.Stories of injury, recovery and resilienceYahya, a 9-year-old boy, is one of 13 children received by the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital for treatment after their medical evacuation from Gaza. His mother, Norhan, recounts that his injury occurred during the second truce on February 27, 2025, while he was playing in front of their house. He was hit by shrapnel, affecting his spinal cord."Yahya began his treatment at the European Hospital, then received two months of physical therapy in Khan Younis at the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital," she says.Although doctors reassure the possibility that he may be able to walk again using an assistive device, Yahya still suffers from pain in his diaphragm, which nearly caused him to choke, along with problems in his intestines and stomach.Hassan is another child injured on June 8, 2025, while playing in front of his house in an area categorized to be safe. He lost his sight due to bombing shrapnel. He underwent two abdominal surgeries, during which a part of his intestines was removed. The shrapnel also injured his toes."Hassan was studying in first grade when the conflict broke out, and at the start of second grade, schools stopped,” says his grandmother, who accompanies him today at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital.“We moved from Sheikh Radwan in Gaza to Rafah, then to Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis. We thought we would return in two days, but it turned into a year and a half of displacement in tents under indescribable conditions."The grandmother recalls the hardships: "We returned home during the first truce, but it had been bombed, and some belongings were stolen, while others were left in the street. During the second escalation, we stayed despite the fear and hunger. A few days before leaving Gaza for Jordan, we prepared to relocate again to the south; we rented a piece of land, where we set up a tent."About daily life in Gaza, she says: "Hunger is deadly. A kilo of flour reached 180 shekels ($US 55), so how can a family of seven live without income? Surgeons were amputating limbs without anaesthesia due to a lack of resources."She expresses sorrow that Hassan's father couldn’t accompany him to Jordan. He is still in Gaza, hoping his parents will be allowed to join her, as Hassan needs advanced treatment available at a hospital in Britain.Compounded suffering and the struggle for survivalThe stories of complex medical needs and family separation continue. Khadija also arrived in Jordan with two of her children, one of whom suffers from lung, heart, and kidney problems that began during the conflict that erupted in 2008, while four of her other children remain in Gaza.“I don’t want my daughter to lose her future,” she says. “I want her to continue her education in better conditions.” She also calls for the opportunity to bring her other son to Jordan for treatment that is unavailable in Gaza.A safe place for psychological recoveryThe role of the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital is not limited to providing medical treatment for sick children from Gaza and their companions, but also extends to psychosocial support, attempting to mend what the conflict has broken inside them.Asmaa Abu Ghosh, the psychosocial support officer at the hospital, says: "Once the children feel they are in a safe place, their psychological condition begins to improve. We notice a big difference between the moment they arrive and today."But the care here goes beyond therapeutic and psychosocial support aspects to gently touch hearts with rare humanity. The medical, nursing staff, and volunteers work to bring back the features of childhood stolen by the conflict. They do this by creating moments of joy, celebrating children’s birthdays, organizing entertainment sessions and other activities such as hair styling that fill empty days and give them space for laughter and play.In late September, Jordan Red Crescent staff celebrated the birthdays of two girls, Tala and Alma. Alma had a very particular birthday wish:"I want to become a doctor… to treat people just like the doctors at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital."Mothers' plight and the journey to safetyMothers also face compounded suffering from malnutrition, pregnancy complications, harsh displacement, and constant anxiety for their children. This is especially the case with families split between Gaza and Jordan, where some children were evacuated for treatment under King Abdullah’s initiative to treat around 2,000 children."I am pregnant and need a C-section,” says one mother. “I left my two young children with their father and their disabled grandfather in Deir al-Balah. We rely on the kindness of people there."She continues tearfully: "They destroyed our house, and we moved from Al-Baraka to Deir al-Balah. No food, no vitamins, only lentils and beans. I have not tasted eggs or fruit for months. I leave bread for my children while anemia and malnutrition wear me down."Despite depression and psychological pressures, she affirms that the medical staff at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital did not neglect her and provided care "like family."Another woman from Khan Younis recounts her struggle with her daughters’ illnesses, one suffering from neurological seizures since childhood, with a condition stable before deteriorating due to theconflict, and the other unable to balance and falling while walking or sitting.Families recount the hardship of accessing medical care amid transport cuts and high costs. One woman describes her daughter collapsing before evacuation, receiving urgent help from the Palestine Red Crescent.Another mother, in Jordan with four children, seeks advanced treatment for her son’s liver disease and she is urging authorities to let her 15-year-old son still in Gaza join them."We spent a year and nine months in a tent, living on aid amid daily suffering," she says. "A hot lentil dish fell on Amir’s back while he tried to get food from humanitarian aid centers that do not meet humanitarian standards, and he got burned. The children competed to fill water and food amid chaos and violence under continuous bombing. Some days, we did not even have a loaf of bread."Her son, Odai, adds: "I am happy in Jordan, but I miss my brother Amir. I witnessed scenes of tension and fear at the distribution centers, where overcrowding and scarcity created extremely unsafe conditions." He hopes to have laser eye surgery to improve his vision, as he has worn glasses since being injured in the 2008 conflict.Despite the painful experiences they endured, the children and their mothers do not lose feelings of gratitude for leaving Gaza and starting a treatment journey that gives them a glimmer of hope. While some families dream of reunion after losing everything, others still demand saving those remaining under the bombing and hunger.About this arduous mission, Zeina Al-Masri, head of the Protection Family Links unit at the Jordan Red Crescent, says: "What always strikes me is the joy in the children’s eyes the moment they enter Jordanian territory. The electricity lights amaze them; they have not seen them for a long time, and their bodies are exhausted from hunger. When we distribute food and light drinks to them, I feel as if something from heaven has descended upon them."A call for continued supportThe life-saving and life-changing work of the Jordan Red Crescent is supported in part by an international Emergency Appeal by the IFRC for the ongoing Middle East crisis. Among many other things, it aims to support patients medically evacuated from Gaza to Jordan, along with their companions, as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ efforts to save lives and preserve the dignity of the sick and wounded, in cooperation with the Jordan Red Crescent.These efforts go beyond receiving patients; the Jordan Red Crescent continues to provide essential medical check-ups for Gazans and Palestinians of various nationalities within the framework of a family reunification program, coordinated with 18 accredited embassies in Jordan. The Jordan Red Crescent also sends humanitarian assistance—food and medicines—into Gaza whenever the crossings are opened.Dr. Sallam concludes by stressing the “need for greater financial support to enable us to provide the necessary health and psychosocial support for these children and their companions,” amid expectations of receiving new groups soon.Story by Mey Al Sayegh, IFRC Head of Communications for the Middle East and North Africa Region

World Mental Health Day: New IFRC report reveals why mental health must be part of any emergency response.

Palestine Red Crescent: Supporting Gaza through winter cold, sudden floods and a crisis of mental health

“We received more than 22,000 aid trucks before the closure of Rafah crossing in May 2024. Since the closure, the Palestine Red Crescent Society only received 58 aid trucks, which is absolutely nothing.”This is how Nebal Farsakh, Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS)’s spokesperson, summed up the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is now aggravated by harsh winter conditions.Overwhelmed by cold temperatures, heavy rain and flooding, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are further at risk of diseases and death. Many are living in tents, open spaces or even on the streets, with almost no protection.“Many families in displaced camps don’t have the clothing and equipment needed to protect them from the harsh weather,”Farsakh continued. “Moreover, recent reports say only 20 per cent of shelter needs are being addressed, leaving more than one million people without adequate places to stay.”Displaced people lacking proper winterization for their shelters face serious threats. Severe weather can damage their shelters, and flooding can contaminate water sources, increasing the spread of diseases.Severe winter conditions, compounded with insufficient aid, have severely hampered the ability of PRCS teams to provide essential support. Yet, the challenges don’t end there.Fuel shortages have crippled ambulance services, forcing evacuations to be often conducted on foot in treacherous weather conditions. This places a severe burden on not only PRCS crews but also on the elderly and people with disabilities who must endure long journeys.The impact of displacement, physical hardship, and the constant fear for their safety and well-being has had devastating consequences on the mental health of everyone in Gaza, especially children.“There is ongoing concern for the mental health of everybody in Gaza, and particularly for children who are so deeply traumatized,” Farsakh emphasized. “There are at least 17,000 unaccompanied children or separated from their parents. Most children are not able to go to school; they live under constant bombing and don’t have access to food.”PRCS mental health and psychosocial support teams are working tirelessly to provide a sense of relief. In shelters across South and central Gaza, they’ve organized events featuring performances, games, and other activities to bring moments of joy to children. But the scale of the crisis is overwhelming.A staggering 1.2 million children in Gaza face a heightened risk of long-term mental health consequences if they do not receive the urgent and critical support they require. The psychological impact of this conflict will likely be profound and lifelong for these children unless they are adequately protected and supported.Without a dramatic improvement in humanitarian access and the flow of supplies, people in Gaza will continue to endure significant physical and mental suffering.Meanwhile, food aid and supplies mobilized by the IFRC network are sitting on the tarmac and in warehousesas the challenges in getting the supplies into Gaza continue.“The aid we have received since the closure of the Rafah crossing is negligible, and this is significantly impacting our relief services. We are unable to do our work. People in Gaza are dying of hunger, cold and diseases because they’re not getting the aid they need.”“This cannot go on.”concluded Farsakh.

World Mental Health Day: A day with serious meaning for humanitarian workers

Humanitarian workers face unique challenges: they operate in contexts of severe hardship, often under pressure, and in environments where safety is never guaranteed. For them, mental health at work goes beyond the usual discussions on stress and burnout. It is intertwined with urgency, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to a humanitarian mission. It is a fundamental element that enables these professionals to continue providing quality support to the communities they assist.On this occasion, we want to highlight voices from the field. Our IFRC colleagues who work in psychosocial support share their reflections on the importance of maintaining their mental health while supporting others. Their testimonies offer rich and diverse perspectives on how to approach this crucial issue.“Mental health at work is an essential component of our overall well-being. In my work with the IFRC, whether it’s managing crises like Marburg and Mpox outbreaks in Africa or providing psychosocial assistance to communities affected by floods, I have seen the major impact that stress and psychological challenges can have on individuals, teams, and communities.“Mental resilience is indispensable in the humanitarian sector. Working with Red Cross volunteers in health emergencies, I have seen how crucial it is to have support structures, spaces for dialogue, and training in psychological first aid.”Dr. Aimé Mbonda, Health Coordinator for IFRC's Yaoundé Cluster, a regional hub that covers Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon•“When I think of mental health at work, I’m reminded that while this concept may seem intimidating, it is actually very simple at its core. It is about fostering a sense of belonging, ensuring psychological safety, allowing employees to have control over their work, and helping them feel their impact.“In practice, this means sharing openly with colleagues, listening carefully, building trust, and offering recognition. Humanitarian workers, who are often passionate with high expectations, particularly need to hear that they are doing a good job, that they are part of a valuable team, that their opinions matter, and that, thanks to their efforts, someone in our difficult world just had a better day.”Allison Male, Psychosocial Support Consultant•“Mental health at work is more than a slogan; it is an obligation. Promoting mental health at work is a responsibility at both the individual and institutional levels. This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is a reminder of the need for concerted efforts to promote, create, and maintain a work environment conducive to good mental health.“There is no health without mental health, as they say. Prioritizing mental health in the professional environment is a culture to co-create and strengthen.”Dr. Danielle Domersant, Health Delegate, Yaoundé Cluster•“With the current global conflicts, the psychosocial support team must be ready to intervene at any time to provide psychological support, if asked. Psychosocial support has become an integral part of the IFRC in these times of change.“We must also configure the support we offer to adapt to different contexts through an eclectic approach. It is also very important to ask, ‘How can we best support affected staff or ensure they feel sufficiently supported?’“From a personal perspective, there are times I wish I could do more to help in certain situations, particularly in crises where it would be preferable to be physically present, but it’s not possible. The use of technology is then very useful and makes it possible to provide the same level of support.”Caroline Kithama, Psychosocial Support Consultant•Learn more about how IFRC works to protect the psychological well-being of staff, volunteers and people impacted by crisis.Mental health and psychosocial support/IFRCWorld Mental Health Day: What does mental health at work mean when your work is helping people in a conflict zone?World Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herselfUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-respondersBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

World Mental Health Day: What does mental health at work mean when your work is helping people in a conflict zone?

In a region as vast and diverse at the Middle East and North Africa (often referred to as the MENA region), where political instability, economic hardship, and natural hazards often overlap, mental health is often the first casualty.Yetmental health and psychosocial support too often remains one of the least prioritized aspects of overall health. Even when it is recognized, it is often extremely challenging to pay adequate attention to this critical need given the pressures of daily work life. We talked to some ofour colleagues in the IFRC’s Beirut office, which oversees the MENA region, about the realities of maintaining their psychological well-being, even as conflict escalates around them.“In theory, the idea of ‘taking care of one's mental health’ or ‘disconnecting’ sounds simple. But in practice, especially in high-stress situations like those we face in the MENA region, it is incredibly difficult. The pressure to constantly be available, to support colleagues, to follow up on emergencies, and to manage personal stressors leaves little room for true disconnection.“Lebanon is a prime example of how complex and intertwined mental health struggles can be. IFRC staff are grappling with ongoing uncertainty,some of us are displaced, others are not sleeping;the emotional toll is high, and yet we cannot put our work on hold.The weight of expectations versus reality can feel overwhelming, and that strain only intensifies when compounded by the crises happening around us. How can we remain productive under these conditions? This is our main challenge right now.”Ibrahim Chaaya, IFRC MENA Staff Health Senior Officer“The problem with a lot of mental health tips is that they have been developed during peacetime, in peaceful situations, for people dealing with diverse stressful situations, but not war. You can disconnect from work, from a dispute you had with someone, from the news, but you cannot ask a person to disconnect when they are the news, when all they can hear is bombings and drones all day long.I cannot be asked to disconnect when an airstrike shakes my home, my bed and my heart every time I try to close my eyes and get some sleep.We should take a step back and rethink the mental health methods and tools we are using, perhaps we should make them more contextualized, realistic, and therefore effective."Rima El Basst, IFRC MENA Community Health Assistant“Honestly, I’m not okay. Physically, I’m fine, but I’m generally not okay. Sometimes I feel numb, sometimes I cry out of the blue, sometimes I just feel unreal. There’s a mix of emotions and I cannot put it into words. You can use all the tools and do all the therapy, but it’s impossible to disconnect and it’s extremely difficult to take care of one’s mental health.“There are constant feelings of guilt and anxiety. I’m even scared of sleeping and I cannot hear a loud sound anymore without thinking that it’s an airstrike. I’ve been trying to take care of myself by doing little things, like finding support in other people by talking to them, but it’s just not enough.”Yasmin Hakim, IFRC MENA Migration Senior Officer“As a Communications Officer in emergencies, I am constantly connected to crises that never end. The challenge isn’t just the intensity of our work, but how the inability to disconnect deeply affects our mental health.Our digital presence mirrors the urgency and chaos of the real world, with each notification, post, and message bringing us closer to the heart of disasters. The pressure to stay engaged 24/7 blurs the line between personal time and professional duty, leaving little room for recovery. While we’re dedicated to our work, the toll on our mental health is often unseen but deeply felt—a cost that’s hard to ignore in the face of constant crises.”Joanna Daou, IFRC MENA Communications OfficerLearn more about how IFRC works to protect the psychological well-being of staff, volunteers and people impacted by crisis.Mental health and psychosocial support/IFRCWorld Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herselfUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-respondersBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

World Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herself

When Gunel Abbasova was a young student, she dreamed of doing something to help others. But for some time, conflict in her country kept from her realising those dreams.“Due to displacement from Aghdam, the conflict left many traces in my life: my unfinished dreams, my lost childhood, and my inability to pursue higher education,” she says. “Little Gunel had already grown up, but her dreams had not yet come true. I always thought that when I grew up, I would become a lawyer and help people in need.”But then Gunel discovered a new way to help others, as a volunteer with the Aghdam district branch of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Gunel explains that throughout these difficult experiences, the National Society gave her hope and helped her realise her potential.“Time passed, year after year, and I was losing hope,”she recalls. “However, when my hopes were nearly exhausted, I happened to meet a person who informed me about the Aghdam branch of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society and said there was a need for volunteers. He mentioned that I could be a part of this community's mission as a volunteer without financial compensation.“Normally, each of us expects some financial support in return for the work we do, even if it is small. But somehow, I didn't think about it for a second. I had already made my choice. I believed that I would find myself there, and indeed, I was not wrong.The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society became the sun shining brightly on me after the rain..”Now Gunel is one of many volunteers helping to bring mental health and psychosocial support to people as part of a project supported financially by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the IFRC.The project is called “Bridging the Gap between Community Needs and Local Capacities and Capabilities of the Civil Society Actors in Azerbaijan” and it aims to strengthen the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) capacity of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRCS).The National Society soon became a place where she could develop her knowledge and skills. However, Gunel still felt that something was missing.“Years later, I had given up on the idea of studying, but I began to develop myself at the National Society. I visited many regions and cities, received training from professional and educated trainers, and increased my knowledge and skills.”“I started to feel happier. I participated in the distribution of humanitarian aid, provided first aid, met many people, and made friends. But there was still something missing. Sometimes I was very weak. Sometimes I ran away from situations as the fear of losing did not allow me to move forward.”“As I developed, I began to search for myself. Who am I? Where am I? Where should I be? I asked myself these questions all the time. One day they announced a new training. When I heard the name of the training, a spark arose in me. At that point in my life, I needed exactly that – mental health and psychosocial support training.”‘Now I have found myself’The mental health and psychosocial support field helped her fill the missing void in her life, made her understand herself better, become happier, and improve her relationships with people.“While attending training and participating in activities in this field, I better understood myself and my aspirations. Over the years, I reached a level where I could inform other people on this topic. As an AzRCS volunteer, I started working with children aged 5-12 in schools, conducting psychosocial sessions for them.Now I have found myself, and I know that it is impossible to be healthy without mental health. I can handle stress and take care of myself. I conduct awareness sessions for community members on this topic. If people are aware of their mental health, they can cope more easily with psychological issues and traumas. They realise that there is hope and light in their lives.”“I am stronger now. I want people to unite and support each other in difficult situations, just like we do at the National Society. I am very grateful to the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team who helped me.”Learn more about how the IFRC and its member National Societies support people with mental health and psychosocial services.Mental health and psychosocial support at IFRC5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-responder volunteersUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventableBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

Uruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable

Uruguay is known for being one of the smallest countries in South America. Its population is less than four million and, according to various studies, for being the happiest on the continent.In this context, one statistic has caught the attention of many people in the country: at least two people in Uruguay commit suicide every day. That means 823 Uruguayans take their own lives each year, a rate of 23 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. This is the third highest in the region, after Guyana and Suriname.The Uruguayan Red Cross has taken on this critical through the project “Una vida más que una posibilidad,” which offers practical tools to prevent suicide among teenagers and volunteers. The project name can be interpreted in several ways: Translated literally as ‘Life, more than a possibility’, it sends the message that suicide prevention is possible, if people are given the right tools. Just as important, it sends the message that suicide prevention, and life itself, is not something that we can just leave to chance.To find out more, IFRC Communications Officer Estefany Jiménez spoke to the project coordinator, Tatiana Linares, a specialist in clinical and health psychology.Jiménez: I would like to start by asking you how you started this process around such a stigmatized and often unspoken issue?Linares: The process started with an open call to all volunteers from the different branches of the Uruguayan Red Cross, and then we interviewed them to get to know and understand the situations they were going through.We started the process with 25 volunteers from eight branches and four people from the technical team of the National Youth Institute. We met people who were going through complex situations, who needed psychosocial support and who even had suicidal thoughts. Or they knew someone who had or was having suicidal thoughts at the time.With this group we ran three virtual workshops on suicide, emotional intelligence and psychological first aid. This was complemented by a face-to-face workshop focusing on the practical part of the training. It was very inspiring to see the commitment and willingness with which they joined the project.And how did this training process impact the mental health of the volunteers?It was a breakthrough, an opportunity for them to express their emotions openly, without judgement. I think it was very valuable for them to recognize and identify these emotions and then ask for help or support to deal with them.They also set up an active support network, a chat group where they kept in touch throughout the process. They wrote and messaged each other daily, offered support to the group and were very willing to look after each other. This created a caring network to support them in different situations.After this phase of training and supporting the volunteers, how was the process of working with the young people?After the theoretical and practical training, it was the volunteers themselves, with my guidance, who designed and facilitated the workshops for almost 150 teenagers from two high schools and a youth centre in the municipalities of Guichón, Paysandú and Mercedes.Each workshop consisted of three days of sessions organized in phases: phase one, ‘I know myself’; phase two, ‘I help myself’; and phase three, ‘I help others’.As a product of the process, the young participants developed and distributed messages based on what they would like to read to another young person going through a difficult situation. In the schools, they put them up in the bathrooms, at the entrances and in other places.Would you say that the project achieved what it set out to achieve or were the results very different from what you expected?The first great achievement and strength of the project is that we managed to connect with the young people and get them actively involved in suicide prevention. We also managed to ensure that our volunteers are now trained to work on this issue.Some of the volunteers who took part in the project have even decided to dedicate themselves to mental health initiatives, which we did not expect but we are very happy about.Tell us more about your work with adults. Have you also worked with older people at risk of suicide?It was more about people who were interested in joining prevention efforts. The community of Guichón asked for our support to address this issue with the families of the young people we were working with, but also with professionals in psychology and social work, religious leaders and other adults who work with or provide services to young people in their daily work.It was a very positive and challenging space that touched them in a very personal way. While their main motivation was to find a way to help a young person, they ended up sharing personal stories of suicidal thoughts.In these spaces we tried, with love, experience and knowledge, to break down the myths surrounding suicide: that it is hereditary, that we cannot prevent it, and so on. The result was so positive that they asked for more interventions.Suicide is surrounded by myths. Did this make the journey very challenging?Yes, one of the first challenges was to talk about it openly, because talking about suicide is taboo and people, even our volunteers, believed that talking about suicide encouraged it. Changing that belief is a huge challenge, but creating a group of volunteers who could do that was also a huge achievement.Learn more about IFRC’s efforts to promote psychological wellbeing in the communities we serve.How does the IFRC's promote psychological well-being in communities impacted by crisis or hardship?Visit the IFRC Psychosocial Centre.Is the threat of climate change impacting the mental health of people in impacted communities?

European Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

In the first few months after Svitlana arrived in Burgas, a city on Bulgaria's eastern Black Sea coast, she lived in a shelter and made money by playing violin on the streets.The former music teacher who fled conflict in Ukraine also received support from the Bulgarian Red Cross in the form of food, clothes and hygiene kits. Eventually, she found a job at the Burgas Opera House as a stage assistant.Now Svitlana is able to share her creative gifts in the form of music and art therapy sessions for other people impacted by the conflict in her homeland.“When people hear a song in their native language, from their homeland, it makes them feel better,” she says, adding that music and art – and the conversations it leads to – also help people feel more comfortable and integrated in their new communities.Svitlana’s music and art therapy sessions are just one of many examples of how Red Cross National Societies in Europe are using people’s inherent creativity to help them through a tumultuous and difficult time.A complimentary therapyIn a world where stress and anxiety are constant companions, expressive therapies that use the creative process have gained traction in recent years as a complement to traditional psychotherapy.Amidst the displacement crisis stemming from the conflict in Ukraine, Red Cross National Societies have stepped forward with a wide-range of innovative approaches to support the mental well-being of people forced to flee their homes.Spearheaded by the EU4Health programme, funded by the European Union's DG Sante project, this initiative aims to deliver crucial mental health and psychosocial support to people displaced from Ukraine.Representing one of the most substantial responses to mental health crises in emergencies within the Red Cross and Red Crescent family, the partnership between DG Sante and the IFRC has introduced diverse forms of art therapy tailored specifically to the needs of affected communities.These therapeutic interventions offer an avenue for people to articulate and process their experiences, facilitating a sense or healing and hope amidst the prevailing uncertainty.FriendshipThe Finnish Red Cross, for example, organized an event for Ukrainians under the theme of friendship. Surrounded by scraps of paper, markers, glue and other craft supplies, the children wrote messages on cards that they then shared with loved ones.In making the thank-you cards, they used words, drawing and pictures cut out of magazines to express their feelings. They also learned and wrote down some Finnish words, further encouraging a sense of belonging in their new communities. One child made a birthday card for his father. The event was defined by a spirit of happiness and togetherness.‘Personal growth’One local branch of the Portuguese RedCrossorganized a handicraft workshop specifically tailored for Ukrainian women. While children attended school or spent time at the Red Cross safe space, women make handicrafts that, at the same time, help them learn Portuguese, acquire new craft skills and feel more integrated in their new communities.Their participation not only facilitated skill development but also contributed to a boost in self-esteem. "It was a significant challenge for everyone involved, but it led to personal and professional growth," said one of the participants.What does happiness look like?One project organized by the Romanian Red Cross asked Ukrainian children at the Multicultural Humanity Centre to reveal on paper what happiness looks like to them. Using coloured pencils and a lot of imagination, the children opened their hearts."I am happy when I have my sister, my family and my stuffed toys by my side," nine-year-old Yeseniia wrote on her card.The art therapy offered by the Romanian Red Cross is just one part of a larger comprehensive approach that aims to meet the participants’ urgent and basic needs. This includes health services and psychosocial support, thematic workshops for children and parents, Romanian and English language courses, life skills activities, and hot meals.Back in Bulgaria, the music and art therapy sessions organized by Svitlana are also a chance for her to find comfort after a harrowing ordeal that forced her to leave her home in Dnipro, Ukraine.Svitlana remembers how her house was constantly trembling during the air raids. “I’m grateful to live under a peaceful sky,” Svetlana says.The content of this article is the sole responsibility of IFRC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Ana Gabriela Mejía Silva: Psychologist and Red Cross volunteer explores the mental health costs of climate change

Eco-anxiety is a relatively new term in the lexicon of psychology, but it’s gaining more attention. In a world facing an existential threat from climate change — and many communities already facing tremendous upheaval — the mental health impacts of climate change are impossible to ignore. People who rely on farming, fishing, or whose cultures are connected to natural cycles, are being deeply affected. Livelihoods are drying up, or being washed away, and in many places, suicide rates are rising. Psychologist and Red Cross volunteer Ana Mejía unpacks what’s happening and explains what we need to do, collectively and individually, to help people cope.

Sudan: 'the most difficult year' after outbreak of conflict

One year after the outbreak of violence in Sudan that killed thousands of people and displaced as many as 8.6 million others, the volunteers and staff of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) are still working around the clock with limited resources to meet massive humanitarian needs.Wajdan Hassan Ahmed has been volunteering with her National Society for 16 years. She describes the 12 months following 15 April 2023 – when residents of the capital Khartoum woke to the terrifying sound of gunfire and explosions – as the most difficult year of her life.“The stories I experienced at the beginning of the war – the evacuations of people disfigured by bomb shrapnel, the stories of fathers who had lost their daughters, mothers who had lost their children, parents who lost their whole family… all these stories have stayed with me, and I cannot forget them,” she said.Psychosocial supportAs well as helping to evacuate people and bring them to safety far away from the fighting, Wajdan and her Red Crescent colleagues have been providing much-needed psychosocial support as well as food, water, and information.Many families were separated in the panic caused by the violence, and the resulting displacement within and outwith Sudan has pushed people far away from their loved ones. The Sudanese Red Crescent’s Restoring Family Links service is still helping to connect and reunite them.“We’re working hard to reunite families who have [been separated from] their children,” Wajdan said. “Some are aged seven to ten, and others of different ages.”Health clinicsSRCS teams have also been operating both fixed and mobile health clinics, helping at-risk people to get the care they need, wherever they may be. An estimated 80 per cent of Sudan’s healthcare facilities have stopped functioning since the crisis began, putting intense pressure on existing community-based Red Crescent health services.As a trusted neutral and impartial organization with thousands of highly trained volunteers and a permanent presence in communities in all 18 States, the SRCS has been at the forefront of the response during this past year. Around 4,000 volunteers have been directly involved in the emergency response.The IFRC had been working closely with SRCS and the ICRC long before the start of the conflict and will continue to do so for as long as people are in need. Many partner Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have also given support, resources and personnel to enhance the response operations. These include National Societies from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Spain, Sweden , Switzerland, and Türkiye.UnderfundedAnEmergency Appealwas launched by IFRC in support of the Sudan Red Crescent Society, although this appeal remains underfunded.A regional population movement appeal was also launched to help National Societies in Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Libya to support people displaced from Sudan.Both appeals are critical in providing aid and relief to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the surrounding region. More funding is needed to meet the urgent needs of these vulnerable populations.Call to actionThe IFRC and the Sudanese Red Crescent are calling upon all parties in Sudan to reflect on the humanitarian challenges that the conflict has posed. Despite the support that has been mobilized — around 10 per cent of the total required — nothing will be able to fill these gaps if the root causes are not addressed.The Red Cross and Red Crescent network calls upon all parties to come together for the sake of humanity and for the people, including children, who are suffering due to this ongoing conflict. And it calls on people around the world to support the critical emergency appeals that will help us ensure that affected communities and families can overcome this crisis, now entering its second year.

EU4Health and the IFRC

Adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission's EU4Health programme seeks to boost pandemic preparedness and build stronger, more resilient and more accessible health systems. A key part of the EU4Health programme includes an historic and ambitious partnership with the IFRC to provide psychological first aid and mental health services to people throughout Europe who have been impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.

A sense of ‘futurelessness’: new data shows severity of mental health challenges for people from Ukraine

Geneva/Brussels - 10 April 2024More than two years of armed conflict - with no end in sight - is leading to a sense of ‘futurelessness’ for displaced people from Ukraine, experts said at a conference in Brussels. Despite the incredible resilience people have been showing, this experience is likely to have a long-term impact on their mental health if not addressed in time.The conference was organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as part of aEuropean Union-funded EU4Health project, which aims to provide mental health and psychosocial support services for people affected by the ongoing conflict. Speakers included Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, Under Secretary General for the IFRC. Participants discussed the mental health needs of those forced to leave their homes, based on a recent survey conducted by the IFRC. Findings include:83% of people affected by the conflict said they or family members had faced stressful or traumatic events. Two-thirds said displacement had had a negative impact on them. Of those surveyed, 79% were outside Ukraine, 21% inside.30% of displaced Ukrainians had sought some form of psychological support since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, which reveals a demand for mental health services.Ganna Goloktionova, Technical Advisor in the IFRC’s Psychosocial Centre, said that uncertainty about the future was the top source of stress for Ukrainians. She emphasised that the combined toll of ongoing armed conflict, insecurity through displacement, the destruction of family structures, the temporary nature of protection, and financial stresses all negatively contribute to displaced Ukrainians’ mental health.“Many Ukrainians can’t see a future.” she said. “This state of ‘futurelessness’ is having a devastating impact on the mental health of Ukrainians, both those in Ukraine and refugees in countries elsewhere.”Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, IFRC Under Secretary General said:“Intervention at the right time can help and, in the long term, give people their futures back. Psychosocial support programmes are some of the least expensive activities in humanitarian responses. But they can have a priceless impact.”Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, IFRC Regional Director for Europe said:“We know how vital mental health interventions can be, particularly when provided early. Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers from Ukraine and host communities build the necessary trust that helps us in addressing the stigma that still, sadly, surrounds mental health.”Across Europe, 37 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are providing mental health and psychosocial support services and have reached 1.2 million people.BackgroundThere is an EU-funded collaboration between the IFRC, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, and National Red Cross Societies in Ukraine and 24 European countries to provide psychosocial support to people from Ukraine since May 2022. This programme has supported more than 200,000 affected people and has seen 11,000 health professionals and volunteers trained in mental health and psychosocial support.Listen to IFRC’s People in the Red Vest podcast episode:Nataliia Korniienko: Helping her fellow refugees cope with the stresses of conflict, migration and starting over | IFRCFor further details or interview requests contactGeneva – Andrew Thomas +41 763676587Brussels – Zsofia Varga +36 70 508 5718

Ukraine: Helping people get back on their feet after severe injury

Across Ukraine, people deal with the daily reality of air alerts and fear. Areas remain under evacuation, and some people cannot return home.But in many parts of Ukraine, recovery has begun and it’s about more than the reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure. It’s about restoring people’s health, livelihoods and wellbeing.The Ukrainian Red Cross (URCS) contributed to the creation of the National Rehabilitation Center Unbroken in Lviv, where recovery comes in the form of treatment, rehabilitation, and in some cases prosthetics."In the time since the injury, I had already learned to cope with many things using just one arm,” says Valentin Anohin, a physical education teacher who lost his arm due to injury in the conflict. “But when I put on the prosthesis, I felt how much easier my daily routine became. Now I can do everything twice as fast."After five months of rehabilitation, Anohin realized his dream. Using the prosthetic, he successfully threw a basketball straight into the hoop.From fear to confidenceYana Kovalova lost her leg due after an explosion in her backyard in Donetsk. Found by neighbours, she was evacuated and had surgery before being stabilized and moving across Ukraine to the Unbroken centre."Physical therapists started working with me immediately here,” she says. “At first, I was afraid to even stumble on crutches – let alone climb stairs. But with each session, I feel more and more confident."Vyacheslav Aleksandrov‘s experience started with questions.“The first feelings after the injury were fear. What to do next? How will all this be?” he said, adding the process is different for everyone."My acquaintance, whose limb amputation was not high, started walking in just three weeks. For someone else, it's a complex and lengthy process, involving both group and individual work."“Psychological support is crucial."‘She really inspires me’With support from the IFRC and other partners, URCS look for new ways to engage and support people with disabilities. Red Cross also supports mental health at Unbroken.“We help them to stabilize their mental feelings. Sometimes they lose their houses or their relatives,” said Sofia Nevoyt, a psychotherapist at the Unbroken centre.One of her clients was injured very badly. “But she was very motivated,” she said. “She told that when this event happened she was even shouting, ‘I want to live.’”“Her progress was very good and I really love to work with her because she inspires me too.”URCS contributes to the recovery of local communities by supporting access to health, mental health, and social care services. Psychosocial support and rehabilitation programs will continue to be focal points for URCS in the years ahead.

Post earthquake, Red Cross China helps people heal and rebuild

Justmore than one month ago, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Linxia Prefecture of Gansu Province in China. The quake struck at midnight on December 18, 2023, as people were sleeping through a cold winter night,destroying homes and claiming lives.With its well-developed disaster preparedness capacity and an established cooperation mechanism with its provincial chapters, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) responded immediately, swiftly carrying out rescue and relief work as it raced with time to save lives.The first batch of relief items dispatched by the RCSC arrived within the first 12 hours after the earthquake.In coming hours and days,more than 20 Red Cross rescue teams in five categories – from medical relief to psychological support – were dispatched to the disaster area.The teams carried out comprehensive response work,including search and rescue, basic aid material, psychological support, provision of meals and toilets, construction of resettlement sites, as well as transportation and distribution of disaster relief materials.Within ten days of the earthquake, the people affected by the earthquake had moved into clean and warm temporary shelters and schools had resumed classes.Now, with the rapid response complete, the operation has moved to the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction stage.Mental health: a key part of recoveryWith the gradual normalization of people’s lives, some places in the village havestarted to offer skill training courses such as welding, elderly care and housekeeping, with training subsidies provided. The training sessions aim to make people more confident and capable of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.Another key building block in the recovery is helping people adjust to the massive disruption the earthquake has had in their lives. This is one reason why volunteers regularly organize counselling sessions, as well as fun, lively activities, and games for children in many of the resettlement areas."Are you coming back tomorrow?" onechild asks Chunhui Ji, a team leader from the Red Cross's Gansu Mingrui psychological service team after one such joyful session of games at one of the resettlement sites."Crisis intervention is an important part of post-disaster recovery,” saysChunhui Ji. “If timely counselling is not provided, it will affect the psychological and even physical health of the affected people long after the disaster, especially affecting the growth of young people.”The difference the counselling is making can be seen in the way the children interact with each other before and after the sessions. One small boy — frightened by the earthquake and its aftermath — was reluctant to play or talk. After the counselling with the psychological team member, however, his nervousness eased a lot and he began to actively join in the games with his friends."Disasters like earthquakes are sudden with serious damage," saidTao Tian, a team member of the psychological rescue team and doctor of Ningxia Ningan Hospital. “Throughout the disaster and post-disaster periods, people may exhibit varying degrees of psychological stress at different times, requiring tailored intervention techniques to help restore mental health.”The RCSC attached great importance to the mental well-being of the affected people, giving priority to the psychological counselling of adolescents and children.Responding to the imperative need, 25 members from Gansu and Ningxia Red Cross Psychological rescue teams had been fully operational at the resettlement sites since the third day after the earthquake.“People are exposed to extremely distressing events when disasters, such as an earthquake, happen to them,”says Olga Dzhumaeva, Head of IFRC East Asia Delegation. “Addressing people’s mental health is a vital part of what we do during and after a disaster. Psychosocial support to affected people, including children, is key to humanitarian response, bringing priceless impact on the life of people who are in critical need.”Some information from Xinhua News Agency

Nataliia Korniienko: Helping her fellow refugees cope with the stresses of conflict, migration and starting over

Nataliia Korniienko knows firsthand the psychological and emotional stresses of conflict, migration and living as a refugee. In 2022, she was a mental health and psychosocial field officer for the ICRC when conflict finally forced her and her daughter to leave for Poland. Now her experience as a psychologist, former Ukrainian Red Cross technical adviser and refugee is helping her provide services to other Ukrainian refugees throughout Europe as a mental health and psychsocial specialist for the IFRC.

One month after Libya floods: Urgent mental health support needed

Geneva/Beirut/Benghazi, 11 October 2023 — One month after devastating floods struck Libya, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) are urgently calling for support to meet immediate needs in clean water, sanitation, cash assistance, and crucially, psychosocial support. The floods have wreaked havoc, displaced thousands and straining already fragile infrastructures in regions such as Derna and Tobruk. The disaster led to overwhelming destruction, with people losing homes, family members, and their sense of security. Libyan Red Crescent Society teams were the first responders, providing vital services from search and rescue to first aid. To date, 450 dedicated volunteers have been actively involved in these efforts, some even losing their lives while saving others. Tamer Ramadan, IFRC Head of Delegation in Libya, said: "The emotional and physical toll of this disaster has been immense. While we have been diligent in our immediate response, the recovery process is far from over. Attention must not wane." In Libya, the focus of aid is not just immediate relief but also long-term recovery. Cultural norms favor financial autonomy; hence cash assistance is essential. Furthermore, with damaged sewerage systems contaminating water sources in Derna, there's a heightened risk to community health. Teams are also focusing on providing holistic psychosocial support, especially given the emotional toll of losing entire families. The LRCS has been indispensable in relief efforts. With a central emergency operation room in Benghazi and two temporary centers in Derna, their services range from family reunification to relief item distribution. They've supported over 54,000 people through various services to date. In light of the escalating needs, IFRC has officially launched an appeal for 10 million Swiss francs to support the ongoing efforts of LRCS in providing comprehensive aid and care for survivors. As of now, 3 million Swiss francs have been raised, leaving a crucial 70 percent of funding appeal yet to be met. Donations can be made through participating national societies and directly via the IFRC website. More information To fund the emergency appeal and support the people of Libya in their time of dire need, visit the IFRC website. For b-roll footage, visit the IFRC newsroom. To request an interview, contact: [email protected] In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06 In Beirut/Bengazhi: Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352

Breaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflict

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, millions of people have been displaced from their homes, facing distressing situations that have left them with trauma and loss. The impact of this crisis on mental health cannot be underestimated, with one in five individuals affected by mental health disorders in post-conflict settings, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The conflict in Ukraine has been devastating, forcing 6,199,700 people to flee their homes as refugees around the world, with an additional 5,088,000 internally displaced within Ukraine itself. These individuals have endured heartbreaking losses, including the deaths of loved ones, the destruction of their homes, and the loss of their livelihoods. Witnessing traumatic events has further compounded the mental anguish faced by many. Since the beginning of the conflict, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers have been on the ground, assisting people at border crossing points, train stations, and temporary shelters. They have been providing a listening ear, demonstrating empathy, sharing life-saving information, and taking care of vulnerable individuals. In neighboring countries, IFRC member National Societies are witnessing an increasing number of pleas for mental health assistance through their community feedback systems. To address this massive need for mental health and psychosocial support, IFRC, the IFRC Psychosocial Centre, and National Red Cross Societies in Ukraine and 24 European countries have united their efforts. Since 2022 June, the EU4Health program provides in-person Psychological First Aid (PFA) within Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, via helplines and other service platforms, and by building and strengthening the capacities of Red Cross Red Crescent National Society staff and volunteers, frontline responders and other professionals. “Through this project, we are continuously creating the awareness to all that it is okay to take a break and prioritize your emotional, psychological, and social well-being especially in stressful situations,” says Basilio Muiruri acting Project Coordinator of Health and Care at IFRC Europe. “As a team together with the national societies’ staff and volunteers, we are emphasizing to the people fleeing Ukraine and those affected inside Ukraine, that indeed they are worthy of happiness and peace of mind, through provision of psychological first aid and basic coping skills.” As part of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), the EU4Health programme takes a comprehensive approach to mental health and psychosocial support. Funded by the European Union, EU4Health is committed to restoring hope and healing to the people of Ukraine during their time of greatest need. In this collaborative project, National Red Cross Societies in Ukraine and 24 European countries have achieved significant milestones in their mission in the last year to provide psychosocial support to individuals displaced from Ukraine. Some key accomplishments include: Establishment of 27 helplines providing Psychological First Aid and Psychosocial Support services to 68,706 people displaced from Ukraine. Training of 4,114 staff and volunteers in Psychological First Aid and Psychosocial Support, including 440 who are Ukrainian or Russian speakers. Engagement of 1,853 staff, volunteers, and first responders in the response to the Ukraine crisis. Facilitation of 490 meetings between National Societies, key stakeholders, and partners to ensure a coordinated response. Mental health is a neglected area of public health in the WHO European Region, with over 150 million people suffering from mental health conditions by 2021. Only 1 in 3 individuals with depression receive proper care, according to The Pan-European Mental Health Coalition (who.int). The conflict in Ukraine has led to an estimated 15 million people needing psychosocial support, with millions potentially requiring medical treatment. Stigma, discrimination, and human rights abuses still hinder access to mental health services. World Mental Health Day on October 10th serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and address gaps in mental health services, with a focus on it being a universal human right in 2023. The content of this article is the sole responsibility of IFRC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-responder volunteers

We all know that mental well-being is as important as physical health. But how often do we actively take care of our mental health? What can we do to support ourselves and others? Why not ask some experts? People whose job is to take care of others during and after crises and emergencies. We decided to ask volunteers from a Honduran Red Cross team that provides medical and mental health services to migrants at a mobile Humanitarian Service Point in Danlí, 92 km southeast of Tegucigalpa. To do their job, they must take care of themselves. After all, how can you support others if you’re not processing your own emotions in a productive, healthy way? Here are 5 tips they offered that can help everyone - even if you are not a volunteer - to take care of your mental health, anywhere, at any time: 1. A little help from close ones: Individual and team care. In emotionally intense situations, it is important to rely on work teams, friends and family. You don't have to face it alone. Sharing experiences and reflecting together helps us deal with the emotional impact of daily work. "In the team, we are always trying to fill ourselves with good energy and good attitude towards difficult situations. We always try to take care of ourselves physically, and above all to take care of our mental health. Because we see many cases, aggressive people, without self-control. In childhood care, we can handle a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety, and we try to understand but also to take care of ourselves." Scarlet Chirinos Honduran Red Cross It is necessary to allow yourself to feel and validate all emotions in order to heal, even if they make you feel uncomfortable. Engaging in self-care practices that involve physical activity and moments of relaxation, as well as resting and spending time in nature, or with people you love, can also help you through painful situations. 2. Someone to lean on: Seek professional support. Access to information and psychosocial support resources can save lives. Despite the fact that close to one billion people in the world suffer from a mental disorder, stigma and social difficulties make it difficult to promptly seek help and mental health care. "We rely on our own team, we reflect and share the experiences we have lived through, and that helps us to provide emotional support. But beyond that, there is also a team of mental health professionals that we can rely on." Ángel Zelaya Honduran Red Cross Talking about your emotions is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. You may be struggling with what you feel is part of the human condition and there is no shame in doing so. You are just a person going through a difficult time and doing the best you can. There will always be someone who understands what is happening to you.You can always ask for help. 3. I hear you: Practice active listening Just as sharing your feelings is beneficial to your mental health. Listening to others in an attentive and respectful way, validating their experiences and emotions, can strengthen your relationships and bonds. It can also provide valuable emotional support, and even more so during crisis and emergencies. "For me, this time I have being a volunteer has been very eye-opening. Gettingclose todifferent realities and learning what people live through along the migratory route, helped me grow as a mental health professional." Scarlet Chirinos Honduran Red Cross By practicing active listening, you develop empathy and open yourself to know realities different from your own. When you see that someone is suffering and having a hard time, let's listen, validate, support and, if possible, accompany them to seek professional help. 4. Keep learning: Look for useful resources. Training is a powerful tool for understanding and addressing mental health challenges and identifying symptoms and situations that can lead to stress and anxiety. "In the Red Cross, I was trained from the basics. I learned what the Red Cross was, safety measures for field work, the meaning of our uniforms. I also received training in Psychological First Aid, Restoring Family Links and Protection, Gender and Inclusion. "We know that in the field we need this knowledge to provide adequate care and to protect ourselves, which is part of the Red Cross training." Yaritza Herrera Honduran Red Cross Don't miss the opportunity to strengthen your mental health knowledge and learn how to help yourself and people around you. Visit our mental health page to find more resources. 5. Support others - support yourself: Volunteer service By supporting others in times of crisis and emergencies, you not only provide support to those in need, you can also find meaning and satisfaction in your life. "You see on the news what the people who pass through the Darien go through, they come with their complications, there are people who have even died on the way.... And to see the joy of the adults, when we take care of their children, when they have their medicines and the possibility of healing their wounds, is the most valuable thing. People always leave grateful, giving you blessings". Leonardo Baca Honduran Red Cross The advice and practices shared by Scarlet, Angel, Yaritza and Leonardo show that taking care of our mental health is essential to facing life's challenges and providing effective supportto those in need. Access to mental health services must go hand-in-hand with actions that guarantee basic needs for all people, whoever they are and wherever they are. There is no health without mental health.

Red Cross helplines offering mental health resources in Ukrainian

The conflict in Ukraine has exposed people to extremely distressing situations. People have lost loved ones, homes and jobs. Many have witnessed traumatic events or are now finding their way in countries, far from friends and family, among people who do not share their language.At times like this, it’s important to have someone to talk to. This is why Red Cross National Societies around Europe are there to offer a listening ear. From Bulgaria to Spain, Red Cross National Societies are offering telephone helplines, staffed by trained staff and volunteers who speak Ukrainian, to offer emotional and psychological support. During times of stress, it’s important to recognize and talk about your emotional well-being. Here below you will find a list of helplines and addresses that offer mental health and psychosocial support in Ukrainian.Гарячі лінії Червоного Хреста пропонують психологічну підтримку українською мовою.Завжди важливо мати можливість поділитися своїми почуттями з кимось, коли ви переживаєте складні моменти. Від Болгарії до Ісландії, Національні Товариства Червоного Хреста в Європі готові вислухати вас. Ви можете зателефонувати на гарячу лінію допомоги, де працюють досвідчені оператори, які володіють українською мовою, щоб надати вам підтримку у важкі моменти.Під час стресу дуже важливо розпізнавати свої почуття і відкрито говорити про них. Якщо ви відчуваєте потребу в розмові з кимось, будь ласка, не соромтеся звертатися до гарячих ліній психологічної та психосоціальної підтримки в країні вашого поточного проживання.Нижче ви знайдете список гарячих ліній та адреси, де можна отримати психологічну допомогу українською мовою.Bulgarian Red CrossHelpline (National Contact Centre):Tel.: 080011466Болгарський Червоний ХрестТелефон гарячої лінії допомоги (Національний контактний центр):Тел: 080011466Czech Red CrossThe official Czech Red Cross website offers information and tools on psychosocial support and crisis preparedness:https://zvladnesto.cervenykriz.eu/en/home/Чеський Червоний ХрестОфіційний вебсайт Чеського Червоного Хреста пропонує інформацію та інструменти з психосоціальної підтримки та готовності до кризових ситуацій:https://zvladnesto.cervenykriz.eu/uk/Danish Red CrossThe Danish Red Cross developed a digital well-being site offering tools and techniques for managing crises, stress, sleep problems, family life, and self-care:www.rodekors.dk/trivselДанський Червоний ХрестДанський Червоний Хрест створив цифрову платформу благополуччя, яка пропонує інструменти та техніки для управління кризами, стресом, проблемами зі сном та сімейним життям і самодопомогою:www.rodekors.dk/trivselHellenic Red CrossMobile Health Unit Department of Thessaloniki:Tel.: +30 2310 531534Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp: +30 6936879405Multifunctional Athens Centre:Tel.: +30 210 5126300+30 210 5140440Viber, WhatsApp: +30 6934724893When: Monday to FridayMultifunctional Thessaloniki Centre:Tel.: +30 2310 270914+30 2310 270496Viber, WhatsApp: +30 6955563471When: Monday to FridayГрецький Червоний ХрестВідділ мобільного медичного пункту у м. Салоніки:Тел: +30 2310 531534Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp: +30 6936879405Багатофункціональний центр у м. Салоніки:Тел: +30 2310 270914+30 2310 270496Viber, WhatsApp: +30 6955563471Коли: з понеділка по п'ятницюБагатофункціональний центр в м. Афіни:Тел: +30 210 5126300+30 210 5140440Viber, WhatsApp: +30 6934724893Коли: з понеділка по п'ятницюIcelandic Red CrossThe Icelandic Red Cross established the Wellbeing4U service platform, implementing various MHPSS activities for adults and children, facilitated by Ukrainian-speaking staff and volunteers. About the Wellbeing4U project:https://www.raudikrossinn.is/english/projects/domestic-projects/refugees-and-migrants/refugees-and-migrants/Facebook group of the Wellbeing4U project:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1127060388638009Website for asylum seekers in Iceland about their rights and services:https://asylum.redcross.is/uk/homeІсландський Червоний ХрестІсландський Червоний Хрест створив сервісну платформу Wellbeing4U,щореалізує різноманітні заходи з психосоціальної підтримки (MHPSS) для дорослих і дітей.Проєкт Wellbeing4U:https://www.raudikrossinn.is/english/projects/domestic-projects/refugees-and-migrants/refugees-and-migrants/Facebook-група проєкту Wellbeing4U:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1127060388638009Вебсайт для шукачів притулку в Ісландії про їхні права та доступні послуги:https://asylum.redcross.is/uk/homeItalian Red CrossThe Italian Red Cross provides psychological support services to people displaced from Ukraine through various channels:The Telephone Psychological Support Service offers immediate psychological assistance:https://cri.it/eu4health/The email service provides information, guidance, and support to displaced individuals who reach out for help:[email protected]Італійський Червоний ХрестІталійський Червоний Хрест надає послуги психологічної підтримки для переселенців з України, через різні канали:Телефонна служба підтримки забезпечує негайну психологічну допомогу:https://cri.it/eu4health/Служба електронної пошти надає інформацію, консультації та підтримку переселенцям, які звертаються за допомогою:[email protected] Red CrossInfoline: Tel.: +48 800 088 136 (from within Poland) or +48 221 520 620 (from abroad).When: Monday to Friday from 09:00 AM to 17:00 PM.Польський Червоний ХрестІнформаційна лінія: Тел: +48 800 088 136 (з Польщі) або +48 221 520 620 (з-за кордону).Коли: з понеділка по п'ятницю з 09:00 до 17:00.Romanian Red CrossRed Cross call center in Romania:Tel.: +40 37 441 5000Telegram: @RomanianRedCrossViber: +40763983980WhatsApp: +40763983980When: Monday to Friday from 09:00 AM to 20:00 PM.Румунський Червоний ХрестТелефон гарячої лінії Червоного Хреста в Румунії:Тел: +40 37 441 5000.Телеграм: @RomanianRedCrossViber: +40763983980WhatsApp: +40763983980Коли: з понеділка по п'ятницю з 09:00 до 20:00.Russian Red CrossPsychosocial support helpline:Tel.: 8 (800) 250-18-59.Psychological support is available at the regional branches of the Russian Red Cross, as well as at the Russian Red Cross mobile support point in the Belgorod region.Російський Червоний ХрестГаряча лінія психосоціальної підтримки:Тел.: 8 (800) 250-18-59.Психологічну підтримку можна отримати в регіональних відділеннях Російського Червоного Хреста, а також в мобільному пункті підтримки Російського Червоного Хреста в Бєлгородській області.Slovakian Red CrossHelpline:Tel.: +421 910 910 116When: Monday to Friday from 09:00 AM to 17:00 PMLanguage: Slovak, Ukrainian, Russian, EnglishThe helpline could be overloaded; we kindly ask you for patience. You can also write us: [email protected]Словацький Червоний ХрестТел: +421 910 910 116Коли: з понеділка по п’ятницю з 9:00 до 17:00.Мова: словацька, українська, російська, англійськаЛінія може інколи бути перевантажена. В такому випадку, будьте терплячі або напишіть ваше питання або відгук на електронну пошту [email protected] Red Cross"Cruz Roja Te Escucha" service:Tel.: 900 107 917When: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (one hour less in the Canary Islands) and on Fridays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (one hour less in the Canary Islands).Іспанський Червоний ХрестПослуга " Червоний Хрест слухає вас ":Тел.: 900 107 917Коли: з понеділка по четвер з 10:00 до 14:00 та з 16:00 до 20:00 (на Канарських островах на одну годину менше), у п'ятницю з 10:00 до 14:00 (на Канарських островах на одну годину менше).Swedish Red CrossThe web hub for MHPSS provides information in multiple formats and languages on stress and integrated psychosocial support:https://www.rodakorset.se/en/get-help/mental-health/Шведський Червоний ХрестВеб-платформа для психосоціальної підтримки (MHPSS) надає інформацію про стрес і комплексну психосоціальну допомогуу різних форматах та на різних мовах:https://www.rodakorset.se/uk/var-hjalp-i-sverige/psykisk-ohalsa/Swiss Red Cross"Helpful" website with important information (e.g. healthcare) including an integrated Telegram Channel: helpful.redcross.chIf you don’t find the information you need you can write to the Telegram channel: Telegram: Join Group ChatШвейцарський Червоний Хрест"Корисний" веб-сайт з важливою інформацією (наприклад, про охорону здоров'я), включаючи інтегрований Telegram-канал: helpful.redcross.chЯкщо ви не знайшли потрібної інформації, ви можете написати в Telegram-канал: Telegram: Join Group ChatUkraniain Red CrossInformation Center:Tel.: 0 800 332 656.To connect to a psychologist, select number 2 in the menu.When: from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 AM to 18:00 PM.Calls from the numbers of Ukrainian mobile operators are free and confidential.You can also leave a request for a consultation by e-mail: [email protected].Червоний Хрест УкраїниІнформаційний центр: 0 800 332 656.Для з’єднання з психологом потрібно обрати цифру 2 у меню.Коли: з понеділка по п’ятницю з 09:00 до 18:00.Дзвінки з номерів українських мобільних операторів безкоштовні та конфіденційні.Також можна залишити заявку для отримання консультації на електронній пошті: [email protected] resourcesWe've also gathered a collection of helpful resources, including articles and tips, to help improve your mental well-being.Video of self-care adviceThe well-being guide14 Day Well-Being KitHow to manage your exposure to news events and social mediaHow do you to talk to children about war?Saying goodbye to loved ones when it's difficultМи також зібрали корисні ресурси, включаючи статті та поради, які допоможуть покращити ваш психологічний стан.Відео з порадами щодо турботи про себеПосібник для доброго самопочуття 14-денний щоденник для доброго самопочуття Як контролювати вплив новинн і соціальних мереж на себеЯк говорити з дітьми про війну?Прощання з близькими людьми, коли це важкоTelegramViberIFRC Psychosocial Center

Gabon ferry disaster: Gabonese Red Cross supports ongoing mental health recovery

"The sinking of the Esther Miracle, which I now call the Esther Ghost, profoundly changed the course of my life. I lost half of myself, my beloved wife," says Gabriel, a survivor who was travelling from Port Gentil to Libreville when the boat sank. "We used to make this trip to Port Gentil regularly. It was around 8pm when we boarded. As a former seaman, I could already sense that something wasn't quite right. And indeed, it wasn’t.” "Between one and two in the morning, we heard suspicious noises. A policeman on board approached us and the other passengers to inform us that there were a few minor problems on the boat but that everything was under control. Shortly afterwards, everything went wrong. The boat tilted dangerously to one side. On the orders of the policeman, we tried to balance the boat, but to no avail, and the boat began to sink.” Hearing of the emergency, the Gabonese Red Cross rushed teams to Port Môle in Libreville where survivors, rescued by another boat, began to disembark in the early hours the following day. Ambulances began transporting people in critical condition to hospital. Red Cross volunteers provided urgent care and first aid to survivors at the scene, and a psychosocial support unit was quickly set up to provide urgent mental health services. "When we arrived at Port Môle, the Gabonese Red Cross teams were already there to receive the shipwrecked survivors, who were all in a bad way. It was only thanks to them that we all received first aid and support. Psychologists were made available to us", explained Gabriel. For Priscillia, it was her uncle who was travelling on the Esther Miracle and who unfortunately lost his life. "I thought of him as more than just an uncle, because he played many different roles in my life and in the lives of many members of our family. He was a pastor and had a huge impact on my life, supporting me so much from a very young age.” “What we know is that when the boat was sinking, not knowing that there were not enough life jackets on board, my uncle gave his to another person who survived. I’m told he spent the last moments of his life saying prayers to strengthen the people around him," explained Priscillia. “The Gabonese Red Cross was very supportive. Emotionally it was difficult at the time. From the first day at the port, when the survivors disembarked on the quayside and my uncle wasn't one of them, the Gabonese Red Cross volunteers were there to help us and take care of us. We were at the port in the morning and came back very late at night every day, and their teams were always there,” she added. As well as providing psychological assistance, the Gabonese Red Cross prepared more than 7,000 meals within 10 days for survivors and families who had come to wait for news of their loved ones at the port. They also set up a special Restoring Family Links (RFL) unit to reconnect people with their lost loved ones. And in the weeks following the disaster, they provided continued medical advice to survivors and helped people to track down lost belongings that were able to be recovered. "It was our duty to provide assistance at such a difficult time. Providing first aid services enabled us to save lives. Similarly, the psychological unit that we opened enabled survivors and family members waiting for news of their loved ones to have an attentive ear ready to provide them with the necessary support. This support continues to this day", said Véronique TSAKOURA, President of the Gabonese Red Cross. In the months since the disaster, Gabonese Red Cross psychologists have referred survivors and relatives of the victims to specialist mental health services in Port Gentil for continued assistance. And their door remains open to anyone seeking comfort or a listening ear. -- Click here to learn more about our work in mental health and psychosocial support.