Mental health and psychosocial support for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants on the move in Europe: A multi-agency guidance note, December 2015

This brief guidance note seeks to provide advice on protecting and supporting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Europe. It describes key principles and appropriate interventions to guide all those who are designing and organizing emergency services and/or providing direct assistance to the affected people.

An unprecedented number of individuals and families, including increasing numbers of children, from the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, have crossed the Mediterranean and Aegean seas in an attempt to reach safety and security in Europe. In 2015, more than 3,500 people drowned or went missing in the process. Currently hundreds of thousands of women, men, girls and boys, legally defined as refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, are on the move within European territories on their way to a destination country. Amidst the multiple needs of these populations, due attention must be given to the protection of their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.