JRS MHPSS Glossary: Promoting Dignity and Well-Being in Humanitarian Care

Why Language Matters

At Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), we recognize that the words we use to describe mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) shape how individuals and communities experience care. Compassionate, inclusive, and accessible language fosters dignity, trust, and belonging—especially for people who have faced displacement, loss, or distress.

This glossary was developed by the JRS Global MHPSS Unit to promote consistent, person-centered communication across all regions. It aligns with global humanitarian standards, including the IASC Guidelines for MHPSS in Emergency Settings, to ensure that every message we share reinforces resilience, agency, and hope.

Download the full JRS MHPSS Glossary here

Understanding MHPSS

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) refers to any service or activity that protects or promotes psychosocial well-being and prevents or treats mental health conditions

At JRS, we take a community-based approach, focusing on the strengths, needs, and active participation of forcibly displaced individuals. Our programs emphasize early intervention, social connection, and culturally relevant support—integrating MHPSS across education, livelihoods, advocacy, and reconciliation efforts.

Examples of JRS MHPSS Activities

• Safe spaces for children and youth

• Peer support and group counseling

• Creative expression through art, theatre, and sports

• Psychoeducation and social-emotional learning

• Psychological first aid and caregiver support

• Referrals to specialized services when needed

The JRS Approach: Cura Personalis

Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis—care for the whole person—JRS walks alongside displaced people with humility and respect for their agency, culture, and faith.

Our holistic MHPSS model views well-being not as the absence of distress, but as the presence of resilience, safety, and connection. By focusing on human dignity rather than diagnoses, we help individuals and communities recover, adapt, and flourish.

Building an Inclusive Future for Mental Health

By unifying our language, JRS strengthens its global advocacy for compassionate care. Each word we choose can reduce stigma, promote belonging, and invite healing.

Download the full JRS MHPSS Glossary below to explore standardized definitions, best practices, and preferred terms that help create environments of empathy and hope.