logo
Science Portal
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5667.produseast1
About MSF Science Portal
About
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5667.produseast1
Mental health in humanitarian settings | Collections | MSF Science Portal

Complex humanitarian emergencies and other low-resource settings can be exceedingly difficult places to provide quality mental health (MH) care. Yet these environments also often have a high burden of mental health care needs.

This collection presents a set of articles describing how MSF teams have adapted and evaluated ways of bringing clinically impactful MH care to neglected communities and patients—from forcibly displaced populations in northern Nigeria to Syrian refugees in Lebanon and typhoon survivors in the Philippines. It also highlights work on developing new tools for providing clinical supervision and for identifying those patients most in need of care in fragile settings, and on new approaches to delivering MH services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Collection Content

See more collections

MSF Science Portal
MSF Science Portal

While Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is known mostly for providing direct medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health services, we also conduct research aimed at improving patient care and advocating for evidence-based policy and practices. To this end we conduct hundreds of research studies each year, publish extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and present our findings at scientific conferences around the world, including several annual MSF-organized events.


With the MSF Science Portal we introduce a new platform that aims to be a « one-stop shop » for content related to this work, so that users anywhere can easily find, browse, access, share and use the knowledge our research generates. Alongside frequent updates of new publications, conference materials, reports and featured content, we will continue to develop this site and to expand its range of content. To learn more about the Portal and what it offers, check out the short videos and slide presentation in this collection.

Combatting antimicrobial resistance
Combatting antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health crisis, especially in countries with fragile health systems, population displacement or ongoing conflict. In 2019 antibiotic-resistant bacteria directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths, and contributed to 4.95 million deaths, tolls that will continue to increase if no effective action is taken.


MSF’s approach to combatting antimicrobial resistance combines three pillars: infection prevention and control, microbiology and surveillance, and rational use of antibiotics via antibiotic stewardship. Several studies characterize patterns and prevalence of antibiotic resistance among MSF patients, from civilians wounded in Middle East conflicts to hospitalized neonates in Central African Republic and Haiti. New technologies developed by MSF and partners are expanding local capacity for rapid, accurate laboratory diagnosis of infections, so that clinicians can prescribe the right antibiotic for each patient. Other work assesses the practices and challenges related to optimizing rational antibiotic use within health facilities and communities.

If you're interested in learning more about MSF's work in antimicrobial resistance, view the full list of MSF's publications on the topic.

World Hepatitis Day 2023
World Hepatitis Day 2023
Viral hepatitis is a major cause of disease and death globally. To mark World Hepatitis Day (July 28th) we present a selection of recent MSF research exploring how to effectively deploy powerful medical tools that could turn the tide on hepatitis C and E—but now reach only a tiny fraction of people who desperately need them, especially in low-resource and emergency settings. For hepatitis C, where groundbreaking new antiviral drugs can cure nearly all patients, MSF is piloting simplified, community-based models of care that offer rapid screening, diagnosis, and treatment under one roof. Some programs focus on the complex needs of highly vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations, such as people co-infected with HIV or TB or who inject drugs. Turning to prevention, an ongoing vaccination campaign against hepatitis E in an outbreak setting is showing early signs of short-term protection. Final results from this South Sudanese refugee camp, where poor sanitation and water quality regularly lead to outbreaks, should help plug a key evidence gap that—along with other barriers discussed in a commentary article—impedes widespread uptake of the vaccine.
View All Collections
Journal Article
|
Research

What matters in mental health care? A co-design approach to developing clinical supervision tools for practitioner competency development

Böhm B, Keane G, Karimet M, Palma M
2022-10-21 • Global Mental Health
2022-10-21 • Global Mental Health
BACKGROUND
Specialised mental health (MH) care providers are often absent or scarcely available in low resource and humanitarian settings (LRHS), making MH training and supervision f...
Mental health in humanitarian settings

Mental health in humanitarian settings

Journal Article
|
Research

Severity, symptomatology, and treatment duration for mental health disorders: a retrospective analysis from a conflict-affected region of northern Nigeria

Torre SM, Carreño C, Sordo L, Llosa AE, Ousley J,  et al.
2022-07-15 • Conflict and Health
2022-07-15 • Conflict and Health
BACKGROUND
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs are essential during humanitarian crises and in conflict settings, like Nigeria’s Borno State. However, research on...
Journal Article
|
Research

Shifting to tele‑mental health in humanitarian and crisis settings: an evaluation of Médecins Sans Frontières experience during the COVID‑19 pandemic

Ibragimov K, Palma M, Keane G, Ousley J, Carreño C,  et al.
2022-02-14 • Conflict and Health
2022-02-14 • Conflict and Health
BACKGROUND
'Tele-Mental Health (MH) services' are an increasingly important way to expand care to underserved groups in low-resource settings. In order to continue providing psychiat...
Journal Article
|
Commentary

Competency-based mental health supervision: evidence-based tool needs for the humanitarian context

Böhm B, Palma M, Ousley J, Keane G
2021-12-31 • Global Mental Health
2021-12-31 • Global Mental Health
Journal Article
|
Letter

How mental health care is changing in Cameroon because of the COVID-19 pandemic

Mviena JLM, Fanne M, Gondo R, Mwamelo AJ, Esso L,  et al.
2020-10-01 • Lancet Psychiatry
2020-10-01 • Lancet Psychiatry
Journal Article
|
Research

Development of a patient rated scale for mental health global state for use during humanitarian interventions

Llosa AE, Martinez-Viciana C, Carreño C, Evangelidou S, Casas G,  et al.
2020-09-18 • International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
2020-09-18 • International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
OBJECTIVE
We present the results of a cross-cultural validation of the Mental Health Global State (MHGS) scale for adults and adolescents (<14 years old).

METHODS
We per...
Journal Article
|
Review

A systematic review of intimate partner violence interventions focused on improving social support and/ mental health outcomes of survivors

Ogbe E, Harmon S, Van der Bergh R, Degomme O
2020-06-25 • PLOS One
2020-06-25 • PLOS One
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a key public health issue, with a myriad of physical, sexual and emotional consequences for the survivors of violence. Social support ha...
Journal Article
|
Research

Perceptions and health-seeking behaviour for mental illness among Syrian refugees and Lebanese community members in Wadi Khaled, North Lebanon: a qualitative study

Al Laham D, Ali E, Mousally K, Nahas N, Alameddine A,  et al.
2020-01-21 • Community Mental Health Journal
2020-01-21 • Community Mental Health Journal
This is a qualitative exploration of the perceptions of mental health (MH) and their influence on health-seeking behaviour among Syrian refugees and the Lebanese population in Wadi Khale...
Journal Article
|
Research

Not forgetting severe mental disorders in humanitarian emergencies: a descriptive study from the Philippines

Weintraub AC, Garcia MG, Birri E, Severy N, Ferir MC,  et al.
2016-09-12 • International Health
2016-09-12 • International Health
BACKGROUND
Severe mental disorders are often neglected following a disaster. Based on Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) experience of providing mental health (MH) care after the 2013 t...