Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Staff, Volunteers and Communities in an Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus

This briefing note provides background knowledge on the MHPSS aspects related to nCoV and suggests MHPSS activities that can be implemented. The messages can be helpful for those in contact with patients or relatives and feel the strain of working and living during the epidemic. The briefing is aimed both at those working in any capacity with those affected by nCoV and for the MHPSS responders who implement MHPSS activities and interventions for everyone affected.

The novel Coronavirus (nCoV) epidemic in 2019 -2020 has recently emerged. The route of transmission is not totally known, although it is known that it can spread from person to person, and local health care systems may be ill-equipped to handle a large-scale outbreak. Furthermore, misconceptions and misinformation about the disease often spreads rapidly in such epidemics. In previous epidemics mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) has been identified as a key priority. MHPSS ensures the well-being of the affected populations, and counter-acts the threats to public health and safety that fear, stigmatization and misconception pose. Access to information, knowledge about the disease and how it spreads, make it easier for the affected to feel supported and calm, and to comply with instructions. Furthermore, psychosocial support to staff and volunteers help the operation as work conditions are extremely stressful.

Guidance is available in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, Chinese (Simplified).

Source: IFRC Psychosocial Centre

Are you sure you want to delete this "resource"?
This item will be deleted immediately. You cannot undo this action.

Related Resources

Guidance material
09 Dec 2020
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth were facing unprecedented challenges caused by quarantine measures and school closure policies in nearly every country in the world. At the same time these challenges emerged, child-focused o...
Tags: Guidance material, COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Other type of resource
05 May 2020
The complete statement from the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management regarding blood shortages and voluntary blood donation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tags: Other type of resource, COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Guidance material
14 Apr 2015
ILO devised a user-friendly model business continuity management plan which aims at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their effort to develop contingency plans to protect their workers and businesses from the consequences of sud...
Tags: Guidance material, Business Preparedness
Scroll to Top