Who Cares about Helpers and Responders in Armed Conflicts and Pandemics? - WE CARE!
Spreading awareness is key. Especially in times of armed conflicts and pandemics, which pose a major threat not only to physical, but also to mental health. Strengthening the mental health of healthcare workers, helpers and volunteers who provide relief 24/7 is the central priority of the Who Cares project. The targeted regions of the project are the South Caucasus, with special regard to Armenia and Georgia, as well as the Ukraine.About the Project
The project – Increasing Knowledge and Partnerships on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Helpers in Pandemics and Conflicts (Who Cares) – is committed to build strong partnerships in civil protection and disaster risk management with respect to Mental Health and Psychosocial support for helpers in pandemics and armed conflicts.
The Goal of the project
The project aims to support civil protection and disaster risk management actors that promote and facilitate the dissemination and exchange of knowledge, good practices, and expertise in civil protection and disaster management. The online media library – WHO CARES – is an effective, appropriate, and innovative way for this purpose as it includes best practices for training and knowledge exchange with focus on tools supporting helpers in distress.
Donors
The Who Cares project is funded by the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (ECHO) and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA).
Key partners of Who Cares
Associated beneficiaries:
Emergency Management Service Georgia (EMS-G)
Ministry of Emergency Situations Armenia (MES-A)
IFRC country cluster office South Caucasus
IFRC Reference Centre for Psycho-social support
As MHPSS becomes increasingly important for helpers and responders in conflicts and pandemics, this requires:
- New forms of support for helpers
- Increase in knowledge exchange and networking on new forms of support
To support the design, development and implementation of multi-disciplinary, risk-based thematic communities /centres of expertise for civil protection and disaster management stakeholders.
To support the design, development and implementation of capacity development and applied science activities that contribute to building and sharing of knowledge, expertise and skills in civil protection and disaster management.
- Strengthened national and regional MHPSS networks
- Wider UCPM knowledge network
- Austrian Red Cross
- Armenian Red Cross
- Georgia Red Cross
- All helpers and responders
Project Team IPP (01.02.2021 - 30.09.2022)
Austrian Red Cross
Austrian Red Cross
Armenian Red Cross Society
Armenian Red Cross Society
Georgia Red Cross Society
Georgia Red Cross Society
Ilia State University
University of Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck
IFRC Reference centre for Psychosocial support
IFRC Country Cluster for South Caucasus
Project Team Who Cares (01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024)
Armenian Red Cross Society
Georgia Red Cross Society
Ilia State University
University of Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck
IFRC Country Cluster for South Caucasus
Austrian Red Cross
Consultant
Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ilia State University
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv