Evidence from the Frontline: Mental Health in Crisis Affected Contexts, episode 1: Self-Help Plus

How do we adapt an evidence-based mental health intervention for different communities in crisis-affected settings?In this first episode Sarah Harrison, Acting Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, interviews Ken Carswell a Mental health Specialist from WHO and Lidiia Kasianchuk a psychologist from Ukraine with experience of implementing SH+. Together they unpack what practitioners need to know about implementation of both the book and group-based SH+ approaches, including field use and adaptation experiences; the impact of SH+ on service users and staff (the role of group facilitators is key). The importance of practice-based evidence and community engagement are explored, and the need for monitoring and evaluation, as well as more rigorous research to inform scaling and to explore motivation aspects.SH+ is a stress management course developed by WHO supported by Elrha’s Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) and the EU Horizon2020 programme. Key resources for practitionersPsychological interventions implementation manual: integrating evidence-based psychological interventions into existing servicesSelf-Help Plus (sh+): a group-based stress management course for adultsThe Self-Help Plus (‎SH+)‎ training manual: for training facilitators to deliver the SH+ courseSelf-Help Plus (SH+) online orientation courseDoing What Matters in Times of StressResearch and further readingSelf-Help Plus (SH+): a new WHO stress management packageGuided self-help to reduce psychological distress in South Sudanese female refugees in Uganda: a cluster randomised trialEffectiveness of a WHO self-help psychological intervention for preventing mental disorders among Syrian refugees in Turkey: a randomized controlled trialEffectiveness of a WHO self-help psychological intervention to alleviate stress among healthcare workers in the context of COVID-19 in China: a randomised controlled trialEffectiveness of Self-Help Plus in its digital version in reducing anxiety and post-traumatic symptomatology among nursing home workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: secondary analysis of randomised controlled trial dataHighlighting Complementary Benefits of Problem Management Plus (PM+) and Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (DWM) Interventions Delivered Alongside Broader Community MHPSS Programming in Zummar, Ninewa Governorate of IraqEvidence from the Frontline: Mental Health in Crisis Affected Contexts is a six-episode mini-series produced in collaboration between the MHPSS Hub and Elrha, designed for practitioners working in humanitarian and crisis contexts, the series highlights impactful interventions and practical insights from experts in the field.