Investing in Mental Health
I was invited to make a presentation on the importance of investing in psychosocial and mental health support for Internally Displaced Persons.
It is critical to bring together different stakeholders as we work towards building a multisectoral, collaborative, and integrated approach for mental health investment. We had high-level representation including the Co-Founder of United for Global Mental Health, the Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organisation, the Special Envoy for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, and the Deputy Minister of Benefits and Health Insurance in Peru.
Policy discussions that lead to action must continue in order to create the impact that we want to see. To truly invest in mental health, we must leave no one behind, including internally displaced persons. When we heal their psychosocial wounds, we heal households and communities, helping them to rebuild their lives with dignity.
You can also read my recent article titled, “psychosocial support in crises and protracted displacement – leave no one behind” here: https://wp.me/pa3rxo-m7
International Development Committee, House of Commons, UK
I met with Members of the UK Parliament and the International Development Committee, House of Commons, UK, to discuss how to align development support to achieve self-reliance for forcibly displaced persons. I also presented a copy of my book, My Name is Aisha.”, to Stephen Twigg, MP, Chair of the International Development Committee, House of Commons, UK.
British Council Emerging Policy Leader on Forced Displacement (2019/20)
Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit
I was invited to be a speaker and panellist at the first ever Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, hosted by the UK Government, in partnership with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Summit brought together political leaders, innovators, experts-by-experience, policymakers and civil society to share the most innovative approaches to mental health around the world.
I presented my paper on Rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons under a Multisectoral Investment Program. My workstream’s recommendations were included in the UK Department of Health & Social Care report, “Declaration on Achieving Equality for Mental Health in the 21st Century.”
Click on the link below to read the report.
High-Level Meeting “Moving the Needle: Mental Health Stories from Around the World”
I was invited to speak at a High-Level Meeting “Moving the Needle: Mental Health Stories from Around the World”, organized by the World Bank Group, with the support of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Embassy of Canada, as part of 2018 WBG-IMF Spring Meetings, on April 19, 2018.
This event focused on Mental Health stories from around the World including those arising from situations of conflict and vulnerability.
I presented a summary of my report titled – “An Integrated Approach to Rehabilitating IDPs with Dignity” with a focus on mental health effects of displacement – the felt but unseen burden of displaced persons. My contributions and recommendations were included in the World Bank Group’s summary report titled, Moving the Needle: Mental Health Stories from Around the World.
Click on the link below to read the report.
Moving the Needle: Mental Health Stories from Around the World Summary Report of Symposium
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Internally Displaced Persons 