Group Admins
Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
Public Group active 2 weeks agoGroup covering Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research topics
Useful Links:
Istanbul Centre for Behaviour Research and Therapy – http://www.dabatem.org/
Resource List
Want to upload a resource?-
Review of studies on resilience in children affected by armed conflict
(287.8Kb)
Background: Researchers focused on mental health of conflict-affected children are increasingly interested in the concept of resilience. Knowledge on resilience may assist in developing interventions aimed at improving positive outcomes or reducing negative outcomes, termed promotive or protective interventions. Methods: We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative studies focused on resilience and mental health in children and adolescents affected by armed conflict in low- and middle-income countries. Results: Altogether 53 studies were identified: 15 qualitative and mixed methods studies and 38 quantitative, mostly cross-sectional studies focused on school-aged children and adolescents. Qualitative studies identified variation across socio-cultural settings of relevant resilience outcomes, and report contextually unique processes contributing to such outcomes. Quantitative studies focused on promotive and protective factors at different socio-ecological levels (individual, family-, peer-, school-, and community-levels). Generally, promotive and protective factors showed gender-, symptom-, and phase of conflict-specific effects on mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Although limited by its predominantly cross-sectional nature and focus on protective outcomes, this body of knowledge supports a perspective of resilience as a complex dynamic process driven by time- and context-dependent variables, rather than the balance between risk- and protective factors with known impacts on mental health. Given the complexity of findings in this population, we conclude that resilience-focused interventions will need to be highly tailored to specific contexts, rather than the application of a universal model that may be expected to have similar effects on mental health across contexts.| Comment -
How can mental health and psychosocial epidemiology in conflict-affected settings be improved?
(559.2Kb)
This editorial proposes a shift in emphasis in the field of mental health epidemiology in conflict-affected settings. After a brief summary of the nature of contemporary armed conflicts, we consider the current and potential roles that epidemiology can play with regard to: (1) establishing the burden of mental disorders; (2) identifying risk and protective factors; and (3) intervention research. We advocate for improved methodological rigor; more attention to mixed methods approaches and multi-level longitudinal research; inclusion of the determinants of mental health beyond conflict-related violence; and consideration of a wider array of mental health outcomes. We particularly highlight the importance of expanding interest to epidemiological research that advances prevention and promotion interventions (e.g., in the early childhood period), in order to fill the gap between epidemiology and mental health practice in conflict-affected settings.| Comment -
What counts as good evidence ?
(708.1Kb)
A though provoking and debate raising article challenging simple answers to the question on What counts as good evidence .
Sandra Nutley , Alison Powel and Huw Davies , Research Unit for Research Utlization , University of St Andrewes , November 2012| Comment -
Mental Health Atlas
(1.6Mb)
WHO 2005 (Revised)
Project Atlas was launched by WHO in 2000 in an attempt to map mental health resources in the world. These data are needed at the country level to assess the current situation and to assist in developing plans and at the regional and global levels to develop an aggregate picture of the available mental health resources and the overall needs. The project thus responds to WHO’s objectives as set out in the World Health Report 2001 (WHO, 2001) and in recent resolutions from the governing bodies of WHO on mental health (EB109.R8 on strengthening mental health and its affirmation by WHA55.10).
The analyses of the global and regional data collected in 2001 were compiled and presented in the publication – Atlas: Mental Health Resources in the World (WHO, 2001b); and individual country profiles and some further analyses were presented in Atlas: Country Profiles on Mental Health Resources in the World, 2001. Mental Health Atlas-2005 is the second set of publications from the project, and it presents aggregate results as well as individual country profiles on mental health.
This edition includes updated and revised information on themes published in Atlas 2001. Atlas 2005 also includes information on new Member States (Timor-Leste) and more Associate Member States, Areas and Territories (e.g. West Bank and Gaza Strip). The general information section has been strengthened considerably, particularly through inclusion of a subsection on epidemiology. And the qualitative information in the country profiles, particularly for low- and middle income countries is much enriched, as a result of a systematic search on mental health services. This has also led to highlighting issues particularly relevant to these countries, e.g. the issue of migration of trained manpower to high-income countries.| Comment -
Rapid Assessment of Mental Health Needs of Refugees, Displaced and Other Populations Affected by Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
(512.3Kb)
A community-oriented assessment
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Geneva 2001
This Tool for the Rapid Assessment of Mental Health Needs of Refugees, Displaced and Other Populations Affected by Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations and Available Resources (RAMH) is intended to be used by mental health professionals, non-mental health personnel, and others involved in mental and psychosocial community support. Since in any conflict or post-conflict situation, the community and health workers are among the first level of contact with forcibly displaced people, they need a basic tool to help them assess mental health needs in emergency situations.
The information collected through use of this tool will serve to set up immediate and longer-term community-based mental health programmes. Close collaboration with mental health professionals is necessary, when they are available. This will help in project design and capacity building, which will include training, establishment of services, ongoing supervision, monitoring and evaluation, care for chronic psychiatric clients, for traumatized persons, and for psychosocial rehabilitation of the community/ties concerned.
The RAMH tool can be used immediately in emergencies; at least one mental health professional should be included in the RAMH team.| Comment -
Who is Where, When, doing What (4Ws) in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
(352.6Kb)
This tool for is useful for the following: providing a big picture of the size and nature of the MHPSS response; identifying gaps in the MHPSS response to enable coordinated action; enabling referral by making information available about who is where, when, doing what; informing appeal processes; improving transparency and legitimacy of MHPSS through a common language and structured documentation; and improving possibilities for reviewing patterns of practice and for drawing lessons for future response.
Authors :
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings| Comment -
Assessing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs and Resources: Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings
(1.1Mb)
WHO UNHCR
2012
WHO and UNHCR have just launched a new publication on Assessing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs and Resources: Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings.
The toolkit was developed in response to frequent requests from the field for advice on assessment of mental health and psychosocial issues in humanitarian settings. Although a range of assessment tools exist, what has been missing is an overall approach that clarifies when to use which tool for what purpose. This document offers an approach to assessment that should help to review information that is already available and only collect new data that will be of practical use.
This document is written primarily for public health actors. As the social determinants of mental health and psychosocial problems occur across sectors, half of the tools in the accompanying toolkit cover mental health and psychosocial assessment issues relevant to other sectors as well as the health sector.
Hard copies can be ordered from the WHO bookstore: [email protected]| Comment -
Discussion Paper 2 : Programming and Evaluation for Psychosocial Programmes
(317.4Kb)
Professor Alastair Ager - Director of the Centre for International Health Studies, Professor of Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh / Research Associate of the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford.
This paper gives guidance for the planning and implementation of psychosocial programmes as part of development assistance projects. It aims to turn the reader’s attention to the two chief questions involved in such planning:What are we appropriately seeking to achieve? What is the best way of going about this? For responding to these two questions, the author suggests creating a logical framework (‘logframe’) for identifying goals and measuring success. Finally, the paper explains the tools for project evaluation, and stresses the need for issues surrounding implementation and evaluation to be addressed at the stage of project planning.| Comment -
The Community Participatory Evaluation Tool for psychosocial programs: a guide to implementation
(1.5Mb)
Martha Bragin
Intervention 2005, Volume 3, Number 1, Page 03 - 24
This paper describes an instrument for the monitoring and evaluation of programs designed to improve the psychosocial well being of children: the Community Participatory Evaluation Tool (CPET). The community plays an important role when the evaluation tool is properly utilised. The rationale for use of the tool is explained, and its application in practice is illustrated with a case study.| Comment -
Discussion guide 4: Non-western concepts of mental health
(321.6Kb)
Dr Alcinda Honwana, 1998 (UNHCR)
This discussion guide examines non-western concepts of mental health, specifically from Mozambique and Angola.It looks at the ways in which mental health and illness can be understood outside the framework of western biomedical paradigms.It discusses how mental health is understood by local people,how it relates to war and other social crises,and what kinds of therapeutic strategies people use to deal with the social and emotional problems caused by deep social crisis.
| Comment -
Discussion paper: Programming and Evaluation for Psychosocial Programmes
(317.4Kb)
Professor Alastair Ager
This paper gives guidance for the planning and implementation of psychosocial programmes as part of development assistance projects. It aims to turn the reader’s attention to the two chief questions involved in such planning:What are we appropriately seeking to achieve? What is the best way of going about this? For responding to these two questions, the author suggests creating a logical framework (‘logframe’) for identifying goals and measuring success. Finally, the paper explains the tools for project evaluation, and stresses the need for issues surrounding implementation and evaluation to be addressed at the stage of project planning.| Comment -
Where are the Girls?: Girls in Fighting Forces in North Uganda, Sierra Leon and Mozambique
(591.3Kb)
Authors: Dyan Mazurana and Susan McKay
Rights and Democracy, 2004
This study raises our awareness of the 'militarization of the lives of girls in the fighting forces and the role they play'. As it was necessary to separate women from children in order to ensure that women's rights were understood to be human rights, it is now necessary to recognize the realities of girls in armed forces, as the study concludes, in order to recognize gender as a key factor in maintaining fighting forces.| Comment -
Review articles MHPSS intervention children affected by armed conflict
(203.8Kb)
| Comment
-
Review articles MHPSS intervention children affected by armed conflict
(174.2Kb)
| Comment
-
Review articles MHPSS intervention children affected by armed conflict
(216.1Kb)
| Comment
-
Review articles MHPSS intervention children affected by armed conflict
(169.5Kb)
| Comment
-
Review articles MHPSS intervention children affected by armed conflict
(211.8Kb)
| Comment
-
MHPSS Assessment Chapter in PAHO 2012 Manual
(216.1Kb)
Short Summary of WHO-UNHCR MHPSS Assessment Toolkit| Comment -
Conceptualizing Stigma
(212.7Kb)
BruceG.Link and JoC.Phelan
"The stigma concept has been criticized as being too vaguely defined and individually focused. In response to these criticisms, we define stigma as the co-occurrence of its components–labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination–and further indicate that for stigmatization to occur,power must be exercised.The stigma concept we construct has implications for understanding several core issues in stigma research, ranging from the definition of the concept to the reasons stigma sometimes represents a very persistent predicament in the lives of persons affected by it."
| Comment -
Psychosocial Evaluation Report from oPT October 2010
(1004.5Kb)
| Comment
