IOM is working with some 40 agencies in the field of Mental Health
and Psychosocial Support to provide emergency help to tens of
thousands of earthquake survivors living in spontaneous settlements
in the capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

The programme, which is funded by the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), aims to provide
comprehensive psychosocial first aid to some 150,000 individuals
and follow-up counselling for up to 10,000 distressed individuals
over the coming months.

Immediate support will include group and one-on-one counseling
sessions and the provision of recreational activities, such as
sport, art therapy and traditional handicraft activities for
vulnerable women.

Six psychosocial mobile teams consisting of Haitian
psychologists, social workers, educators, art therapists and
cultural animators will deploy in settlements where needs have been
identified.

"The massive loss of life has brought grief and guilt towards
the ones who died. The loss of homes and belongings is also
contributing to the emotional destabilization of individuals and
families, which can lead to withdrawal, confusion, and anxieties
about the future," says Guglielmo Schinina, IOM's global
coordinator for mental health and psychosocial response.

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Haiti

"Although these are normal consequences of natural disasters,
but they need to be taken care of, otherwise they can lead to the
breakdown of family ties and social structures, and in some cases
to anger and violence."

As part of the six-month programme, IOM and its partners from
the Faculty of Psychology of Port au Prince University and other
international experts will train some 550 humanitarian workers,
religious leaders and community health professionals to increase
their understanding of the psychosocial consequences of the
earthquake and to provide them with the knowledge and skills to
manage the short, medium and long term needs of affected
individuals.

"It is particularly important to ensure humanitarian responses
to natural disasters integrate mental health and psychosocial
assistance for victims at the earliest possible stage," says
Schinina. "This paves the way for long term responses that will
help the entire population take part in the reconstruction of the
country."

IOM's psychosocial track record includes similar post-emergency
interventions in various countries, including Lebanon, Sri Lanka,
Kenya, Myanmar and Indonesia.

For more information, please contact:

Guglielmo Schinina

IOM Port-au-Prince

Tel. +509 380 32 446

E-mail: "mailto:gschinina@iom.int">gschinina@iom.int

or

Mazen Aboul Hosn

Tel: +509 380 32564

E-mail: "mailto:maboulhosn@iom.int">maboulhosn@iom.int