Heartbeat of Humanity

Do Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) really improve children’s mental health? Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) are safe, structured places established quickly in emergencies where children can play, learn, and receive psychosocial support, to promote protection and wellbeing. In this second episode, Sarah Harrison, Acting Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, speaks with Professor Alastair Ager, Queen Margaret University and Columbia University and Phiona Koyiet, MHPSS Lead, World V...

In this short teaser, Acting Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub Sarah Harrison introduces a coming podcast series on the Heartbeat of Humanity channel. The six-episode podcast series is called Evidence from the Frontline – mental health in crisis affected contexts and it is produced in a collaboration between the MHPSS Hub and Elrha - Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance. Designed for MHPSS practitioners working in humanitarian and crisis contexts...

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, through four interviews, Communications Officer Jesper Guhle explores the MHPSS programmes and services provided by Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies across the African region. Interviewees: Serah Kalumbilo, Zambia Red Cross SocietyErnest P. Nyame Annan, Ghana Red Cross SocietyOmar Sheikh Mohamud, Somali Red Crescent SocietyNathalie Nyamukeba, ICRCIn the podcast, a Community of Practice for Red Cross Red Crescent MHPSS focal points...

This episode of Heartbeat of Humanity is the fourth and last episode in a mini-series about the mental health of children and young adults in the contexts of emergencies or conflict with child and adolescent psychiatrist Brett McDermott. In this episode, MHPSS Adviser Arz Stephan talks to Brett about who among children and adolescents - or people in general - need further support following a natural hazard. Brett is an Australian child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is head of Ta...

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, MHPSS Adviser Arz Stephan talks to Brett McDermott about how parents and teachers can help children after a natural hazard. Brett is an Australian child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is head of Tasmania’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and professor at the University of Tasmania. Brett has led several post-disaster programs in Australia to better support young people experiencing the trauma of floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms...

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Monia Aebersold and Kristofer Vernmark explains the concept and the benefits of digital MHPSS and present the digital MHPSS toolkit availble on the MHPSS Hub website. Monia is the MHPSS Project Manager in charge of psychosocial support services at the Swiss Red Cross with 20 years of experience in the field of displacement and migration. She holds a Master degree in Social Work and Social Development and she is Head of the Sui SRK App project, a digit...

In this second of three episodes in a series about ‘feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space’ MHPSS Hub, Senior Communication Officer, Villads Zahle interviews former Communication Team lead for a large humanitarian INGO, Iben de Neergaard. Almost 300 aid workers were killed in 2024 – the largest number in history. Additionally, more than 220 were wounded and more than 90 kidnapped. These dire numbers reflect a shrinking humanitarian space. A si...

In this third and final episode of our miniseries on Ambiguous Loss, we dig deep with Roubina Tahmazian from ICRC into the critical yet often overlooked topic of children’s wellbeing in the context of families of the missing. Too often, the needs and emotional wellbeing of children are sidelined as families grapple with the uncertainty and challenges of missing loved ones, with no or very limited support from the surrounding. Roubina Tahmazian, clinical psychologist and MHPSS delegate f...