STEPin - Voices of wellbeing

In this episode, Victor Ugo, MHPSS and Youth Engagement Advisor at the MHPSS Collaborative, discusses why involving youth in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) responses is essential.

He explains how engaging young people throughout the design and implementation of programmess leads to longer-term, more impactful outcomes. Victor also emphasizes the importance of diversity and ensuring youth participation at all stages of the process, offering practical insights on how to make youth engagement meaningful and effective.

In this episode, Maria Chiara Monti, group analyst and expert in ethnopsychology from Centro Penc, delves into the cultural factors that shape mental health and psychosocial care for migrants and refugees.

The discussion covers key topics such as migration statistics, the reasons behind forced migration, and the trauma experienced by refugees. Maria Chiara also explains the ethnopsi approach, its role in addressing migration-related trauma, and how cultural mediation can support mental health and well-being for these vulnerable populations. Tune in to gain insights into the complexities of migration and mental health.

In this episode, Ruth O’Connell and Antria Spyrido, MHPSS regional specialists from UNICEF, discuss the importance of developing psychological and psychosocial interventions tailored specifically for children and youth. They explain why adult-centered approaches are not appropriate to use with children and adolescents as they face their own unique challenges that require specialized support.

The episode highlights key examples of interventions, such as EASE, "I Support My Friends," and TeamUP, and touches on upcoming programs like BLOOM. Tune in to learn why youth involvement in the design and implementation of MHPSS interventions is essential and where you can find more resources on this important topic.

In this episode, host Pernille introduces the WHO-developed mental health interventions "Doing What Matters in Times of Stress" and "Self Help Plus (SH+)," before welcoming George and Eleftheria from Terre des Hommes Greece to dive deeper into PM+ (Problem Management Plus). They explain the PM+ methodology and its effectiveness in helping individuals manage stress and adversity.

They also explain that PM+ can be delivered by trained lay people without a mental health background, making it accessible to many communities. The episode also covers the importance of supervision to ensure quality and highlights PM+ implementation in the HADEA EU-funded projects Step IN and Well-U projects, with George sharing insights from their experiences.

In this episode, Sandra Agodenze, a public health expert and researcher at War Child Alliance Uganda, explains what stigma around mental health means and how it affects individuals, families, communities, and even entire societies. She discusses the negative impact stigma has on mental well-being and social progress.

Most importantly, Sandra shares practical steps we can take to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and create a more supportive environment for everyone

In this episode, Orso Muneghina explores the crucial role of scalable, evidence-based psychological interventions in closing the global mental health gap, especially for those facing adversity.

He highlights how mental health services are often underfunded or inaccessible, and how training non-specialists to deliver these interventions can decentralize support and extend care to underserved communities. 

Orso also explains how scalable interventions are designed to reach large populations without compromising quality, thanks to ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Tune in and learn more about these impactful MHPSS methodologies that empower community members to provide essential mental health support.

In this podcast episode, Enas Elhaldi sheds light on the severe mental health crisis in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict. She explains how fear, displacement, and continuous violence are deeply affecting children, families, and social structures.

Many people face a loss of income, increasing negative thoughts, and the breakdown of family units, while others are subjected to conflict-related sexual violence. 

Enas also shares insights on interventions by the Ahfad Trauma Center which provides mental health training, direct support services, and staff care to help individuals and organizations cope with the escalating challenges.

In this podcast episode, Iryna Frankova, discusses the profound mental health impacts of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

She highlights the widespread distress caused by family separation, loss, grief, and human rights violations, which are affecting people across the country. Iryna explains the importance of preventive interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA) and other support protocols.

She also shares insights on developing digital tools to support those affected by the war and emphasizes the critical role of training caregivers and volunteers to ensure effective, sustainable mental health responses during and after the crisis.

In this episode, Alastair Ager from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, discusses the global mental health gap and the role of community-based support.

We explore the mental health treatment gap, which highlights the lack of access to mental health services, especially for children and youth. Alastair shares insights from his experiences, including progress made in Sierra Leone, where collaborative efforts have reduced this gap. 

He emphasizes the importance of non-professionals in providing mental health support, the value of community engagement, and the need for training and supervision. We also discuss what can be done at the local level to promote mental health and address psychosocial distress.

In this episode, Ken Miller, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and expert on communities affected by armed conflict and refugees, discusses the challenges faced by both children and adults, and focuses in particular on the impact of daily stressors.

The conversation explores how trauma during childhood affects mental health, particularly in conflict zones, and highlights the long-term consequences for children and their caregivers. Ken also explains the vital role international organizations play in addressing these issues and supporting mental health in vulnerable populations.