Resources for Therapists

Are you an expressive arts therapist interested in global work?

 

With a career in global development & mental health for almost a decade, I have gathered many important resources that I believe will help expressive art therapists in their pursuit in a global career. 

I will continually update this site with links and information that I feel are best practices within public health, global mental health, policy & development, etc. I hope these links and information will provide you with a foundational knowledge to begin a global career. 

The current links below are more heavy on humanitarian and emergency situations due to the work I have been doing over the last few years. There is also information for recovery, development, and capacity building, which I will add into this page. The biggest take away that I can give is the importance of recognizing the infrastructure and resources available in the communities you are accessing. Once you've recognized the strengths and resources, work alongside the community and leaders to address needs and areas of growth. Additionally, do not ignore the protocols with local officials and government, make sure you are checking in with the leaders in the community to stay on track with ethics and community involvement. This is a theme you will see throughout the best practices on this page. 

Please feel free to reach out to me with questions, if you are interested in a presentation, or would like to learn more about my consultancy work. 

Links to Information on Global Situations

  1. Relief Web- Relief Web is such a great go to site to get up to date information on emergency and humanitarian situations. Additionally, you can find forums, trainings, and jobs. 
  2. UNHCR- If it is a refugee situation, you will get up to date information 

Links to Best Practices in Global Mental Health

Inter-Agency Standing Committee

The IASC MHPSS Reference Group was established in December 2007. Its main task is to support and advocate for the implementation of the Guidelines. The Reference Group consists of more than 30 members, and fosters a unique collaboration between NGOs, UN and International Agencies and academics, promoting best practices in MHPSS
 

The Interagency- Agency Standing Committee website has been my go to to finding incredible free resources, publications, reference guides, guidelines, and up to date information on humanitarian crises. This was my first step in learning about global mental health best practices, and you will find their guidelines referenced throughout research & practice. If you are interested in global work, it is important to have a foundational knowledge when applying to jobs. In many job "Terms of References (TOR)" the IASC is mentioned. 

This website can get pretty overwhelming, so I have added links that I visit regularly. Click on the title to go to the website. 

  1. IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings- This document is reviews the core foundation of IASC models, ethics, etc. It is my go to guide for reviewing terminology and best practices in global mental health. I have also been in uncountable meetings, calls, and situations, where the information in this guide is referred to.
  2. IASC Checklist for Field Use- An abbreviated version of the guidelines and easy to carry in the field.
  3. Recommendations for Conducting Ethical Mental Health and Psychosocial Research in Emergency Settings- This is a wonderful guide and resource for global mental health ethics. 
  4. Who is Where, When, doing What (4Ws) in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support- Playing to Live used this resource to do a comprehensive needs and resource assessment in Uganda's South Sudanese Refugee Settlements. This resource is a great way to build a foundational knowledge of the different mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) actors and agencies. The guide provides you with essential terminology and understanding of the complexities of working in emergency and recovery situations. 
  5. IASC Reference Group Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Assessment Guide- This is another guide for gathering information prior and during your work in global settings. Included is a guide to performing back ground research, ethical guidelines, and example research questions. 
  6. Completed Assessments- This link will take you to completed assessments for a diversity of humanitarian and emergency settings. Make sure to check this link to find information on a region or situation your interested in. 

Job Sites

  1. Relief Web- This website is where I have found most of the consultancy positions I have applied to. I use the search term "MHPSS" (mental health and psychosocial support) & mental health for most searches. In almost all job "Terms of Reference" I have seen IASC referenced, so make sure to become familiar with the terminology. 
  2. UNICEF- UNICEF has many job postings up at any given time. I use the search terms "MHPSS, protection, mental health, and psychosocial support"

 

Interesting Links

  1. Girls on the Move: A publication about girls escaping natural disasters and violent conflict in Eastern Africa (World Vision)