A collaborative to unite and strengthen mental health support initiatives for children and families
The MHPSS Collaborative was born as a response to a growing body of research on the impacts of Children’s exposure globally to unprecedented rates of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect, particularly those in crisis, migration and displacement situations.
We are not only witnessing an increase on the number of children living in conflict areas (37% more since 2010), but more importantly, an unacceptable increase in verified grave violations as evidenced by a shocking 174% increase since 2010.
We face a terrible reality where 415 million children are living in conflict, 35 million are forcefully displaced and over 50 million are uprooted.
A reality where the recent developments on COVID-19 is forcing more than 1.5 billion children and youth out of school, some of them in contexts where online classes are not possible, and with the immense consequences that this has for their mental health and wellbeing.
We know how children should be playing, learning, growing healthily, encountering typical challenges and building their resilience, but are instead being exposed to the most challenging contexts. The exposure to which puts them at risk of severe consequences for both health and wellbeing. Exposure to critical incidents and long-term adversity, and the failure of adequate child protection and nurturance, leads to devastating impacts on children’s physical and mental development, their potential to actively engage in the building of inclusive, peaceful societies, and the socio-economic development and stability of communities as a whole.
“At the MHPSS Collaborative, we know that investing in resilience-building and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for children, youth and families in fragile and humanitarian contexts is a critical precondition for sustainable development that leaves no one behind.”
- Carmen Valle-Trabadelo
And to critically and meaningfully contribute to the MHPSS of Children and Families, we work across the sector to:
- Convene and facilitate partnerships to engage a broad range of stakeholders
- Develop and share knowledge, and advance local-to-global research
- Advocate towards donors and decision-makers for MHPSS as a life-saving measure
It is under our number one area of work, Convening, that the collaboration with Mental Health Innovation Networkhas become a key piece of our contribution to bringing together people, organizations and ideas together. We wanted to have a space where we could convene online all the fantastic organizations that are developing relevant innovations, programmes, advocacy and research, local and global partners that are making out of children, youth and families MHPSS the focus of their excellent work. A space where learning opportunities can be nurtured over e-learning knowledge sharing tools like webinars and podcasts, allowing relevant conversations, interactions and the sharing of valuable experiences and lessons can take place.
And this space is now a reality! Multiple organizations with resources or a focus on children and families MHPSS, that were already members of MHIN, can now be found in this Collaboration Page, and new exciting innovations are joining us now to celebrate the launching of this important convening effort. We will be organizing relevant webinar, posting interesting podcasts and using our community to support each other and do more and better together.
Now more than ever technology is allowing us to stay connected and share our work for the benefit of those who are at greatest risk. We want to invite you all to join us, submit innovations, resources, ideas and more. Become part of this beautiful collaboration effort.
Visit the MHPSS Collaborative for Children and Families
