First Person: Supporting mental health in Madagascar, one consultation at a time

First Person: Supporting mental health in Madagascar, one consultation at a time

Henrielle Emasignavy works for WHO in Ambovombe, where the Androy Regional Referral Hospital is based. She spoke about the care that is being provided to people who are struggling with mental health crises. WHO’s Henrielle Emasignavy at the Androy Regional Referral Hospital. “In Ambovombe town, we are seeing a number of mental health conditions, including…

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Israel-Palestine: Blockade puts Gaza aid on the line, WHO spotlights soaring mental health needs in Israel

Israel-Palestine: Blockade puts Gaza aid on the line, WHO spotlights soaring mental health needs in Israel

An alert from Gaza’s main hospital in the south of the enclave that lifesaving operations would stop on Wednesday evening because of fuel shortages followed an appeal from UN chief António Guterres for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. A truce was needed, he told the Security Council on Tuesday, “to ease epic suffering, make the delivery…

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World News in Brief: Health access in Israel-Palestine, Myanmar bombing, child refugee mental health

World News in Brief: Health access in Israel-Palestine, Myanmar bombing, child refugee mental health

“Over 1000 people have died and many more been injured following horrific acts of violence by Hamas on Saturday in Israel, and days of bombing by Israel in Gaza,” the WHO said  in a statement on Tuesday. The UN agency has offered assistance to health officials in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.  …

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London Police will no longer take emergency calls on mental health issues

London Police will no longer take emergency calls on mental health issues

Police in London have announced that they will no longer receive emergency calls for mental health incidents. According to the Police Commissioner, after August 31, all types of mental health emergency calls will be banned. The Met Police Commissioner says that London Police need no medical professionals to attend to mental health emergency calls, and…

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Gaza: Over a quarter of UNRWA centre patients needing mental health support

Gaza: Over a quarter of UNRWA centre patients needing mental health support

This is the highest rate of mental health need ever recorded, across UNRWA’s medical system. UNRWA’s health programmes support some two million Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory composed of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as in Syria. Immensely challenging year Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Dr….

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Survey reveals war’s ‘immense’ mental health toll on Ukrainian refugee mothers in Poland

Survey reveals war’s ‘immense’ mental health toll on Ukrainian refugee mothers in Poland

The finding is the result of a survey conducted by the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland, which also revealed that 53 per cent had considered getting, or had already accessed, mental health support since arriving in the country.  ‘Not a surprise’  “The psychosocial toll of the war in Ukraine is immense so the results…

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WHO reveals one-third of prisoners in Europe suffer mental health disorders

WHO reveals one-third of prisoners in Europe suffer mental health disorders

While European prisons managed adequate COVID-19 pandemic responses for inmates, concerns remain about poor mental health services, overcrowding and suicide rates, the report stated. “Prisons are embedded in communities and investments made in the health of people in prison becomes a community dividend,” said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, regional director of the WHO regional…

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