Doha, Qatar: Marking World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10 every year, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held a roundtable discussion on Mental Health in Conflicts and Emergencies.
The event was attended by Faisal Mohamed Al-Emadi, Secretary-General of QRCS, H E Karim Marcos, Ambassador of Canada, H E Odette Yedi David, Ambassador of Colombia, Duncan Hill, Deputy Head of Mission at the UK Embassy in Qatar, and Basma Tabaja, head of ICRC mission in Qatar.
Other participants included representatives from the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF); the International Organization for Migration (IOM); Qatar University; Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; and the embassies of the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.
In his opening remarks, Al-Emadi said, “Over the years, QRCS has gained extensive experience in mental health, as part of its humanitarian and relief efforts, supported by a skilled team of psychosocial specialists. Its deployable Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Emergency Response Unit — the first in the MENA region and the fourth globally — will be officially registered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies this December.”
He added, “Currently, QRCS is implementing major projects to support disaster and war victims, including the psychosocial support (PSS) program for Palestinian families in Doha, with the generous support of the Embassies of the United Kingdom and Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.”
Tabaja emphasized the importance of taking care of the psychological impact of humanitarian crises and armed conflicts on individuals and communities, by paying attention to such a fundamental issue for the region and the world, as well as its negative implications for people’s lives and social stability. Examples were given from Syria, Gaza, and other war zones.
She thanked QRCS for its ongoing partnership in such events, which promote dialogue on humanitarian action and diplomacy.
