IFRC Mental Health Framework

Description

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – Mental Health Framework.

All too often we learn of stories from around the world of the horrendous treatment that persons with mental health problems face in their communities and families. Ashamed of or attempting to protect a suffering family member, it is not uncommon for caregivers to resort to hiding persons with mental health problems in their homes or abandoning them in asylum or prison like facilities.

While each person’s story is unique, stigmatization and ill treatment of persons living with mental health problems is more or less a global phenomenon and as a global community we have failed to reach out to and support those suffering.

The time has come to remedy this failure. Now is the time to build upon the successes of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support in building National Society capacity to respond to psychosocial needs in times of emergency and disaster.