Attachments
58,706 vulnerable people received MHPSS services as a response to the 2023 February earthquakes
9,525 vulnerable people attended rehabilitation programmes
2,556 referrals to specialized mental health services
Services provided
Mental health in Syria has been severely impacted by years of crisis, displacement, and economic insecurity. Affected populations have experienced a range of stressors such as exposure to violence, separation from or loss of loved ones, poor living conditions, poverty, food insecurity, loss of livelihoods, physical injuries, and illnesses as well as a lack of access to services such as health care, education, and social care.
The mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) approach of UNHCR Syria is aligned with UNHCR’s operational guidance on MHPSS and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines. Multi-layered interventions are integrated in the health and protection responses (primary health care, community-based protection) as well as in education and shelter programmes.
Social considerations in basic services and security:
• The age, gender and diversity approach is applied and mainstreamed in all protection activities and interventions conducted at UNHCR-supported community centres and by mobile teams and outreach volunteers.
• Basic services such as food, core relief items, shelter, health, and education are provided in a safe and culturally appropriate manner that ensures dignified access for all persons that UNHCR serves.
• During the reporting period, UNHCR provided general and medical in-kind assistance for 59,689 vulnerable people. Around 47% of the distributed items included medical assistive devices which are critical to enable older people and persons with disabilities to continue to live at home and delay or prevent the need for long-term care; increase choice, safety, independence, and sense of control for service users restoring the dignity of the people with disabilities and people with special needs. The remaining 53% of items distributed were general items including houseware, kitchen and heating appliances and cooling devices. In addition, 17,740 older persons with severe health situations and persons with specific type of disabilities received adult diapers as this assistance was identified as one of the most pressing factors on people’s lives.