WHO EviMaPS: Evidence Mapping of Psychosocial Supports

WHO EviMaPS: Evidence Mapping of Psychosocial Supports project.

This project aims to capture changing practices and growing evidence about disaster-related mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) policies, programs and interventions by conducting a practice review and an evidence review and then disseminating and translating the findings. More specifically, this project aims to:

  • Identify what MHPSS policies, programs and interventions are in practice or emerging to reduce risks, promote protective factors and reduce the impacts of disasters.
  • Examine the evidence for the benefits of MHPSS policies, programs and interventions in the contexts of populations at risk, and experiencing the impacts of disasters.
  • Identify the gaps in evidence.
  • Identify implications for policy, programs and practice, and global guidance offered by WHO and partners for effective program and policy implementation.

If you are familiar with MHPSS programs and policies through your work, we would like to invite you to complete an online survey. This survey will ask you about promising MHPSS policies, programs and interventions on disaster risks and events arising from hydrological/ meteorological (e.g. floods, landslides, tsunamis, extreme weather events), geohazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions), and environmental hazards (e.g., bushfires/wildfires). Participation is voluntary and if you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to.

If you are interested in reading a little more about the study and what participation would involve, please click below. Survey closes 12th April 2024.

Online Survey

We are committed to sharing the findings from the EviMaPS project in multiple formats that are accessible to the public. Updates will be posted on this website. Summary findings will be shared directly with participants.

Responsible Researcher:

Professor Lisa Gibbs, University of Melbourne Australia

T: +61 3 8344 0920, E: lgibbs@unimelb.edu.au

Additional Researchers:

Robyn Molyneaux robyn.molyneaux@unimelb.edu.au
University of Melbourne, Australia

Dr Claire Leppold claire.leppold@unimelb.edu.au
University of Melbourne, Australia

Dr Katitza Marinkovic Chavez katitza.marinkovic@unimelb.edu.au
University of Melbourne, Australia

Dr Lennart Reifels l.reifels@unimelb.edu.au
University of Melbourne, Australia

Alexandra Howard ahowa@unimelb.edu.au
Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Australia

Jane Nursey jnursey@unimelb.edu.au
Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Australia

Associate Professor Jonathan Abrahams jonathan.abrahams@monash.edu
Monash University, Australia

Dr Elizabeth Newnham elizabeth.newnham@curtin.edu.au
Curtin University, Australia

Professor Junko Otani ootani.junko.hus@osaka-u.ac.jp
Osaka University, Japan

Dr Paola Cavaliere paola.cavaliere@unimi.it
University of Milan, Italy

Dr Patricia Watson Patricia.J.Watson@dartmouth.edu
National Centre for PTSD, USA

Professor Nahoko Harada nahokoharada@okayama-u.ac.jp
Okayama University, Japan

Dr Anna Sozzi presidente@sipem-er.it
Italian Society of Emergency Psychology Social Support - Emilia Romagna (SIPEM SoS Emilia Romagna ODV), Italy

Alex Iacconi presidente@sipem-er.it
Italian Society of Emergency Psychology Social Support - Emilia Romagna (SIPEM SoS Emilia Romagna ODV), Italy

Funding

This project has been funded by the World Health Organisation.