Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Humanitarian Settings

About Course

The Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) course provides comprehensive knowledge and practical tools for delivering psychosocial support in humanitarian and emergency contexts.

Emergencies — including conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks — significantly affect mental health and community well-being. Humanitarian professionals must be equipped to recognize distress, provide safe and supportive responses, and integrate psychosocial considerations into programming.

This course explores foundational mental health concepts, stress and trauma reactions, Psychological First Aid (PFA), community-based support strategies, safeguarding and ethical responsibilities, referral pathways, and program-level MHPSS integration.

It is designed to strengthen professional capacity in humanitarian settings while aligning with internationally recognized MHPSS principles and standards.
Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Professional Certificate of Completion from ReliefScholars.

Explain core mental health and psychosocial concepts in emergency settings
Identify common psychological and emotional reactions to crisis
Apply Psychological First Aid (PFA) using the Look–Listen–Link approach
Distinguish between normal distress and severe mental health conditions
Design basic community-based MHPSS interventions
Integrate MHPSS considerations into humanitarian programming
Apply ethical and safeguarding principles in psychosocial support
Identify appropriate referral pathways for complex cases
Monitor and report MHPSS activities responsibly

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Mental Health & Psychosocial Support
This module introduces core definitions, terminology, and the humanitarian relevance of MHPSS.

What is Mental Health?
What is Psychosocial Support?
The MHPSS Continuum and Pyramid Model
Why MHPSS Matters in Emergencies

Module 2: Understanding Crisis, Stress & Trauma
Focuses on psychological responses to emergencies.

Module 3: MHPSS Principles & Humanitarian Standard
Aligns MHPSS with humanitarian frameworks.

Module 4: Psychological First Aid (PFA)
This is a major operational component.

Module 5: Community-Based MHPSS Interventions
Moves from individual to community level.

Module 6: Protection, Safeguarding & Ethical Responsibilities
Links MHPSS to protection and GBV.

Module 7: Referral Pathways & Case Management
Defines scope and limitations.

Module 8: Integrating MHPSS into Humanitarian Programming

Module 9: Practical Case Studies & Field Challenges
Consolidates learning.

Final Professional Assessment
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Student Ratings & Reviews

5.0

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Ibrahim Suleiman

3 weeks ago

Am a student of Guidance and counseling from Federal University DUTSENMA
I want to enhance my experience with diverse skills and techniques regarding to to my course of study.

About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Mental Health & Psychosocial Support This module introduces core definitions, terminology, and the humanitarian relevance of MHPSS.

What is Mental Health?

What is Psychosocial Support?

The MHPSS Continuum and Pyramid Model

Why MHPSS Matters in Emergencies

Module 2: Understanding Crisis, Stress & Trauma Focuses on psychological responses to emergencies.

Stress Reactions in Emergencies

Trauma and Grief

Children and Vulnerable Groups

Resilience and Coping Mechanisms

Module 3: MHPSS Principles & Humanitarian Standard Aligns MHPSS with humanitarian frameworks.

Core MHPSS Principles

Do No Harm and Ethical Considerations

Safeguarding in Psychosocial Support

Accountability and Participation

Module 4: Psychological First Aid (PFA) This is a major operational component.

Introduction to PFA

Look–Listen–Link Model

Communication Skills in Crisis

Do’s and Don’ts of PFA

Module 5: Community-Based MHPSS Interventions Moves from individual to community level.

Community Mobilization

Group Support Activities

Child-Friendly Spaces

Cultural Sensitivity in Support

Module 6: Protection, Safeguarding & Ethical Responsibilities Links MHPSS to protection and GBV.

Confidentiality and Informed Consent

Managing Disclosure

Referral for GBV and Severe Cases

Ethical Boundaries for Non-Specialists

Module 7: Referral Pathways & Case Management Defines scope and limitations.

Identifying Severe Mental Health Conditions

Building Referral Systems

Working with Health and Protection Actors

Documentation and Case Notes

Module 8: Integrating MHPSS into Humanitarian Programming

MHPSS in Project Design

Budgeting for MHPSS

MHPSS Indicators and Monitoring

Reporting to Donors

Module 9: Practical Case Studies & Field Challenges Consolidates learning.

IDP Camp Scenario

Conflict-Affected Community

Natural Disaster Case

Course Review & Assessment Preparation

Final Professional Assessment Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)