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 (Anthrologica, 2020; Tol et al, 2020). 

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 (Tol et al, 2011), Elrha commissioned a second review in 2021 to establish an MHPSS research agenda for the next ten years.

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 Elrha’s Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme. Applying the established 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.  

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.

References

Anthrologica (2020), Review and assessment of MHPSS intervention research in humanitarian settings. London, UK: Elrha 

Tol WA, Patel V, Tomlinson M, et al. (2011) Research Priorities for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Settings. PLoS Medicine. 8(9): e1001096. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001096 

Tol, WA., Ager, A, Bizouerne C. et al (2020), Improving mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in humanitarian settings: reflections on research funded through R2HC. Conflict & Health. 14, 71. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00317-6