Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Why Mental Health Support Matters During Displacement

People who are forced to flee their homes often experience multiple layers of stress. These may include exposure to violence, separation from family members, loss of livelihoods, disruption of community networks, and uncertainty about the future. These experiences can significantly affect emotional well-being and social stability.

Many individuals experience natural reactions such as sadness, anxiety, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating. These responses are common and often improve when people regain safety, access basic services, and reconnect with supportive relationships. However, some individuals may need additional support to recover and adapt to new environments.

Ensuring access to mental health services is widely recognized as part of the fundamental right to health and is essential for supporting healthy development, stability, and long-term well-being for displaced individuals and families.

The JRS Approach to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Jesuit Refugee Service provides holistic Mental Health and Psychosocial Support rooted in the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. This approach recognizes that healing and resilience are strengthened when individuals are supported within their families, communities, and cultural traditions.

JRS programs focus on community participation and local leadership. Rather than focusing solely on clinical diagnoses, JRS emphasizes restoring safety, connection, and resilience in displaced communities. Well-being is understood not simply as the absence of distress, but as the presence of dignity, social support, and hope for the future

MHPSS has long been a core part of JRS programming worldwide, and the organization has contributed to global humanitarian guidance on psychosocial support in emergency settings. Programs are designed to be culturally relevant, inclusive, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Community-Based Mental Health Support

JRS prioritizes community-based approaches to mental health and psychosocial support. Community-based MHPSS focuses on strengthening the capacities of individuals, families, and communities to support one another and rebuild social cohesion after displacement.

These approaches emphasize early support, prevention, and the integration of mental health considerations across humanitarian programming. Community members themselves often play an active role in designing and delivering these activities, ensuring that services are culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs.

MHPSS Services and Activities

JRS implements a wide range of activities that promote mental health, strengthen social connections, and support resilience among displaced communities.

Examples of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services include:

• Safe spaces for children and youth that provide structured activities, emotional support, and opportunities for learning and play
• Community activities such as sports, arts, music, theatre, and cultural programs that strengthen social bonds and restore a sense of normalcy
• Peer support groups and group counseling where individuals can share experiences and receive encouragement from others in similar situations
• Psychological first aid and emotional support for individuals experiencing distress following crisis or displacement
• Psychoeducation and social-emotional learning to help individuals understand stress responses and develop healthy coping strategies
• Support for parents, teachers, and caregivers to strengthen protective environments for children and young people
• Individual counseling and case management for those who require more targeted support
• Referrals to specialized mental health services when advanced clinical care is needed

These services aim to strengthen resilience, reduce suffering, and help displaced people rebuild a sense of safety and belonging.

Integrating MHPSS Across Humanitarian Programs

JRS integrates mental health and psychosocial considerations across its broader humanitarian work, including education, livelihoods, child protection, and advocacy initiatives. This integrated approach recognizes that emotional well-being is closely connected to access to education, economic opportunity, safety, and community life.

Programs may incorporate psychosocial elements into classrooms, youth programs, livelihood initiatives, and community centers, helping individuals rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills needed to move forward after displacement.

In many settings, JRS also trains teachers, community leaders, and humanitarian staff to recognize signs of distress and respond with compassionate, culturally appropriate support.

Supporting Healing, Resilience, and Hope

Mental health and psychosocial support is essential to helping displaced people rebuild their lives after crisis. By investing in community-based care, early support, and integrated services, JRS works to ensure that refugees and other forcibly displaced people can heal, strengthen relationships, and pursue meaningful opportunities for the future.

With the right support systems in place, individuals and communities affected by displacement can recover, adapt, and flourish.

FAQ About Mental Health Support for Refugees

Resources on Mental Health and Displacement

• JRS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Glossary
• Coping During Displacement Policy Brief

Related JRS Programs

• Education Programs for Refugees
• Emergency Humanitarian Assistance
• Advocacy for Refugee Protection
• Where JRS Works