1. Theories and Concepts
Operational Guidelines on Community based mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings: Three-tiered support for children and families
An orientation to the field test version

2. Objectives To Understand: What do we mean by Community Based MHPSS?
What is the IASC MHPSS Pyramid?
What is the Social Ecological Model?
What is the MHPSS Theory of Change?
What are the Nine Circles of Support?
Objectives

3. What does it mean to have a community based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) approach?

4. A community based MHPSS approach…
Strengthens natural supports and systems
Makes use of community knowledge and capacities
Must be carried out in line with the principle of ‘do no harm’
Engages the community in all phases of programming
Addresses interventions at all layers of the
Includes lay and professional services and psychological and social supports
IASC MHPSS Pyramid

5. What is the IASC MHPSS Pyramid?

6. in the system of supports for people’s recovery and wellbeing in
IASC MHPSS
intervention pyramid
shows the four layers
in the system of supports for
people’s recovery and wellbeing in
humanitarian emergencies.
This is an adaptation of the IASC MHPSS intervention pyramid that continues to benefit from application in the field and further discussion
among experts.

7. THE IASC MHPSS PYRAMID

8. A Question for You

9. Can you think of an example intervention for each level of the IASC MHPSS Pyramid?

10. What is the Social Ecological Model?

11. The Social Ecological Model views child development and wellbeing as contingent upon contextual factors (e.g. family, community, sociocultural and political influences and the services and structures that surround them)
MHPSS interventions in emergencies must consider how best to reach children at each age and developmental stage
Children’s wellbeing and resilience are linked to their stage of development.

12. The Social Ecological Model…
…Is a way to visually represent and advocate for MHPSS interventions that engage children, families and the larger care community to generate positive change for children and family
….views children as active agents in their ecosystems, in dealing with adversity and, in turn, influencing their families and communities
…demonstrates how risk and protective factors influence a child’s wellbeing and development at all levels

13. THE SOCIAL ECOLOGICAL
MODEL

14. A Question For You

15. Can you name one protective factor and one risk factor at the FAMILY/CAREGIVER level that could impact a child’s well being?
Can you name one protective factor and one risk factor at the COMMUNITY level that could impact a child’s well being?
Can you name one protective factor and one risk factor at the SOCIETY/CULTURE level that could impact a child’s well being?

16. What is the MHPSS Theory of Change?

17. Can be adapted and tailored to different contexts
Describes how MHPSS interventions directed at the child, the family/caregiver and the community can help to reduce suffering and improve mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
includes strategic actions, causes of problems affecting children’s wellbeing and barriers to program implementation
Can be adapted and tailored to different contexts
The MHPSS theory of change…

18. MHPSS interventions can also be divided into 9 Circles of Support
Within the MHPSS Theory of Change
MHPSS Interventions operate on 3 tiers:
child
family/caregiver
community
MHPSS interventions can also be divided into 9 Circles of Support
For more information on the 9 circles of support, see “Application of the Guidelines” the next module of the orientation

19. Outputs and Interventions (9 circles)
The MHPSS Theory of Change
Outputs and Interventions (9 circles)

21. Outputs and Interventions (9 circles)
THE MHPSS THEORY OF CHANGE
Outputs and Interventions (9 circles)

23. What are the 9 Circles of Support?

24. 9 CIRCLES OF SUPPORT

25. They are divided into 3 tiers: child, family/caregiver and community
The 9 circles of support demonstrate how interventions can be operationalized to create the conditions for child and family wellbeing
They are divided into 3 tiers: child, family/caregiver and community
The 9 Circles are part of the MHPSS Theory of Change (See the “Theory and Concepts” module for more information)

26. Social Ecological Model
IASC MHPSS Pyramid
Community based MHPSS
9 Circles of Support
For more information on how to apply these concepts, see the orientation module “Application of the Guidelines”
MHPSS Theory of Change

27. Questions?