National Conference Brief Report
“Who Cares” Increasing knowledge and partnerships on mental health and psychosocial support for caregivers during pandemics and conflicts.
The National Conference within the “Who Cares” Increasing knowledge and partnerships on mental health and psychosocial support for caregivers duringpandemics and conflicts project was conducted in Ani Grand Hotel, in Yerevan, on the 6th of December 2024.
The conference hosted a total of 28 participants, including members of the ARCS MHPSS Network: Mission Armenia, Caritas, SOS villages, Médecins du Monde MDM, ICRC, State Pedagogical University, Child Development Fund NGO, Armavir Development NGO, Huysi Metsamor NGO, State University Students Board, Resue team representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ARCS HQ regionalMHPSS and Disaster Management team members.
The head of ARCS MHPSS Department Mrs. Armida Zakharyan initiated the conference by welcoming guests and proposing an introductory activity. Then the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies South Caucasus Delegation, Mr. Davron Mukhamadievwelcomed the participants and expressed appreciation for MHPSS initiatives and emphasized the strategic alignment between IFRC and ARCS in advancing mental health and psychological support. Then he shared his experience with the audience on how they used to manage emergencies like during the armed confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh, or the flood in Alaverdi.
It was noted that similar activities are prevalent among programming companies, and a proposal was made to host Ukrainian MHPSS specialists to share their personal experiences with Armenian colleagues. Additionally, the idea of involving students in training sessions was suggested to help prepare future specialists and foster stronger relationships between universities and organizations. The discussion also emphasized the significance of such conferences and advocated for making them ongoing initiatives. A proposed theme for the next event was introduced: "Prompt Methods for Psychological Recovery."
The initiative "Help the Helpers" by Médecins du Monde (MDM) emphasizes the critical role of providing psychosocial support (PSS) to frontline workers. Representatives from the Rescue Team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia underscored the importance of collaboration within such networks. They highlighted how partnerships with organizations involved in similar initiatives create valuable opportunities to exchange experiences and expertise with other specialists in the field.
All the participants were impressed by the voises from the field presented by the psychologists, social workers, and disaster management and first aid frontline workers. The conference effect was like a theraputic peer to peer support “The stories are so real, true and impressive”, - highlighted the participants. Despite the project is coming to an end the participants were eager to luanch another one in the next year for sustainability of MHPSS in Armenia and developing the relationships with another actors.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the organizers of the conference and hoped, that they will have an opportunity to come together once again to share their lessons learnt and experiences in facing the challenges.
The Project Achievements, Challenges, and Best Practices provided an overview of the progress made under the project. Speakers highlighted key milestones, reflected on obstacles faced, and shared effective strategies implemented to support helpers during pandemics and conflicts.
After a lunch break, the afternoon resumed with Voices From the Field, a session dedicated to the stories of frontliners. Psychologists, social workers, and disaster management professionals shared heartfelt narratives from their experiences, offering a glimpse into the realities of their work and the impact of psychosocial support.
The conference then shifted focus to a Partners’ Panel Discussion titled “Roadmap: Where We Are Now and What’s Next.” This interactive segment allowed participants to collaborate, discuss future initiatives, and establish a vision for sustaining and expanding MHPSS efforts.
Following a coffee break, attendees participated in an engaging Q&A session, providing a platform for in-depth discussions and clarifications on the topics addressed throughout the day.
The event participants highlighted the therapeutic nature of shared frontline experiences presented by psychologists, social workers, and disaster management teams.
• concluded with a Closing Ceremony, where participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate. Interviews with selected MHPSS Network partners took place afterward, offering additional insights into their experiences and contributions.
