Myanmar's Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is defined as any local or external support that promotes or protects the well-being of children and families or individuals. UNICEF identifies MHPSS as a key priority area within emergency response settings and implements MHPSS through a multi-sectoral approach particularly through Child Protection, Health, Education, Early Childhood Development, Disability, and Nutrition programming. MHPSS service provision and programming focuses on the promotion of positive mental health through actions that support people to identify coping mechanisms, to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and create supportive living conditions for well-being. MHPSS service provision also includes prevention measures that address stigma, trauma, hopelessness, and distress.

This MHPSS Multi-Sectoral Strategy outlines the UNICEF principles, standards, and approaches of multi-sectoral MHPSS as outlined from global guidance with a particular consideration of MHPSS integrated through Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, and Education. This strategy further outlines Myanmar specific actions recommended for a multi-sectoral approach, as identified by the MHPSS team, to be taken in achieving minimum MHPSS services and activities over the duration of the strategy 2022-2025.