ERU Psychosocial Support Component

Among humanitarian actors it is commonly known that armed conflicts and natural disasters cause significant psychological and social suffering to affected populations. The psychological and social impacts of emergencies may be acute in the short term and can undermine the long-term mental health and psychosocial well-being of the affected population, threaten peace, human rights and development. One of the priorities in emergencies is thus to protect and improve people's mental health and psychosocial well-being. Previous ERU deployments have shown high numbers of patients presenting multiple somatic complaints; this group of patients places a heavy burden on the available health care delivery system. psychosocial psychosocial

Graphic by Rod Shaw / IFRC

The ERU psychosocial support delegate

When the ERU psychosocial support component is deployed, its activities are coordinated and managed by a psychosocial delegate. The overall task of this psychosocial delegate is to plan and support basic psychosocial activities as part of the work of the ERU, together with the Operating National Society and/or local health authorities.

For a job description please click here.
For the ERU psychosocial delegate manual click here. For the Spanish version click here.

The ERU psychosocial support component contains two kits materials for play and recreational activities which represent one aspect of children's well-being. Stimulation and children's opportunities to play and education are often interrupted during crises and emergency situations, and it should be sought to re-establish such opportunities at the earliest possible. The component also contains a training kit and the items included in this assist the implementation of trainings and various interactive sessions for volunteers, community members and ERU colleagues.

Specifications (click to view):
PSP kit packing list
Weight and volume list
Complete items overview

Information, education and communication materials

A set of brochures and information sheets is available in in the ERU psychosocial support component to facilitate the interaction and communication with community members seeking support. The give insight into how to best make community members feel comforted, informed, made aware of their own reactions.

ERU psychosocial trainings

Many ERU National Societies now include a psychosocial module or section in their Delegate trainings. A module is developed as part of the ERU psychosocial support component which may be incorporated into ERU trainings, both classroom based and simulations. Please contact the PS Centre if interested to know about ERU psychosocial trainings.

For further information:
Introduction to the short module
Short module - powerpoint presentation