Research Snapshot: Clinical supervision for humanitarian mental health workers

Local MHPSS practitioners in humanitarian settings often face the same challenges as the communities they serve. Supervision may play a role in supporting their wellbeing and ensuring service quality. Recent evidence has highlighted the need for culturally and contextually appropriate supervision models for MHPSS frontline workers in humanitarian settings, while evidence gaps exist on how to prevent burnout. However, implementation, contextual and cultural factors must be addressed to ensure cultural responsiveness of supervision.

The Caring for Carers study examined how online fortnightly group supervision impacts MHPSS practitioners in two challenging humanitarian contexts: Syrians in Türkiye/Northwest Syria and those working with Rohingya communities in Bangladesh.  Supervision was associated with improved MHPSS practitioner wellbeing. However, effectiveness of supervision (and its benefits for practitioners) depend on context and implementation factors. Supervision may also support MHPSS services that are responsive to community priorities. More research is needed to understand whether positive impacts on practitioners translate to quality improvements or positive outcomes for service users.

This snapshot contains key messages, findings, implications for humanitarian policymakers and practitioners and recommendations for further research.