Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Research Priority Setting 2021 – 2030 (MHPSS-SET2)
Overview
Humanitarian crises are often associated with significant psychological and social suffering. It is now recognised that the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) should form a key component of humanitarian health response. To support the identification of evidence-informed solutions, MHPSS research in humanitarian settings has grown since the 1990s, with increasing attention paid to the development and delivery of appropriate, effective, and adaptable interventions and support systems.
Recognising the diverse MHPSS needs in humanitarian settings, and the growth in delivery of MHPSS programmes, efforts have been taken to refine a research agenda that is responsive to the needs of different population groups as well as the humanitarian practitioners providing services. Following a first research priority setting exercise conducted in 2011, we commissioned a second review in 2021 to establish an MHPSS research agenda for the next ten years.
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The findings of MHPSS-SET2 are presented in an interactive table below. This visualisation presents the top 20 research questions as aggregated across groups. These 20 questions can be reordered by professional category, gender, or region of work using the below filters.
Top 20 priority questions for MHPSS research in humanitarian settings
This work was commissioned by Elrha, conducted by researchers at HealthRight International, delivered with the support of the IASC Reference Group for MHPSS, and steered by a Funding & Policy Council comprising funders and policy leaders in the field of MHPSS.
This data visualisation presents the top 20 priority questions for MHPSS research in humanitarian settings, following a multi-stage consultation with MHPSS researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. The questions can be reordered by professional category, gender, or region of work using the filters below.
Select options from the dropdowns to display data
| Research Question | Significance | Answerability | Applicability | Average |
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This work was commissioned by Elrha, conducted by researchers at HealthRight International, delivered with the support of the IASC Reference Group for MHPSS, and steered by the project’s Funding & Policy Council.
Anne Harmer
Former Head of R2HC, Elrha
“We hope the identified priorities will guide the focus of mental health and psychosocial support research over the next 10 years, providing evidence to inform MHPSS practice and support people whose mental health has been affected by crises.”
View the full report, and a detailed methodology
Supported and endorsed by the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, the MHPSS Research Priority Setting 2021–2030 (MHPSS-SET2) was commissioned and funded by our Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme. Applying the established Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI( methodology, the priority setting was conducted by HealthRight International and steered by a Funding & Policy Council comprising funders and policy leaders in the field of MHPSS. A Scientific Practice and Advisory Board guided the methodology.
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