Operational Constraints and Opportunities for MSF-Holland Mental Health Programmes

Author(s)
Fyvie, C., Alastair A., and Scholte, P.
Publication language
English
Pages
21pp
Date published
01 May 1999
Type
After action & learning reviews
Keywords
Health, Development & humanitarian aid, Protection, human rights & security, Training, Psychosocial support

 

In 1996 MSF-Holland made a policy decision to assign a high priority to mental health (MH) and declared its ambition to become an acknowledged expert in translating MH expertise into action in the field. Despite this statement of commitment the operationalisation of MH programmes has failed to meet expectations. This report describes a study carried out in late 1998 to analyse this issue. Several key questions were formulated for the purpose of the study, focusing on field and office staff’s perceptions of MH, and their opinions and attitudes regarding MH programmes and their initiation and management.