Humanitarian Actors Call for Stronger Collaboration on Mental Health Support in Crisis Settings
Geneva — With mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs rising sharply worldwide, particularly among children and young people affected by conflict and crisis, humanitarian actors are warning that traditional ways of working are no longer sufficient. The is a need for enhanced collaboration and coordination between actors for an effective solution.
At the start of December 2025, a diverse group of public and private stakeholders gathered in Geneva for a dialogue titled “Connecting for Mental Health: Building Bridges among Private and Public Humanitarian Actors.” The event was co-hosted by the Peace of Mind Foundation and partners, bringing together representatives from across the United Nations system, humanitarian organisations, philanthropy, global health institutions, and the private sector.
Geneva hosts one of the world’s most concentrated ecosystems of MHPSS expertise. However, participants acknowledged that despite this strength, efforts often remain fragmented at a time when demand for services is growing and humanitarian budgets are under increasing strain.
Discussions focused on the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to respond more effectively to mental health challenges in crisis-affected settings. Key priorities identified during the exchange included strengthening support for local and community-based organisations, building more effective public–private partnerships, and leveraging digital and innovative approaches to expand access to MHPSS services. Participants also highlighted the widening funding gap, noting that “while global commitments to mental health have increased, available humanitarian financing continues to decline.”
Youth mental health emerged as a particular concern, with participants sharing insights and initiatives aimed at addressing the unique vulnerabilities faced by young people during humanitarian crises.
The Peace of Mind Foundation also presented ongoing work with the MHPSS Collaborative to develop a practical roadmap to help donors navigate mental health funding during and after the current humanitarian.
Organisations represented at the event included the World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Interpeace andFondation Botnar.
“This is a starting point of a more structured effort to better connect MHPSS actors across Geneva and Switzerland. Plans are already underway, in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation, to hold a follow-up convening in June 2026 aimed at translating dialogue into concrete collective action.” Mind Foundation noted.
Participants emphasised that sustained collaboration will be essential to ensure mental health support reaches those who need it most in an increasingly complex global humanitarian landscape.
