The Global Psychosocial Network (GPN) recently released a statement regarding the roles of professionals and volunteers in migrant/refugee camps, detention sites, at the border and in transit zones. GPN represents a network of psychosocial professionals who support and accompany other professionals in the field such as humanitarian workers, healthcare professionals, and social justice activists who are in conflict or disaster zones. The statement was composed by the GPN working group, which is comprised of members ranging from Sarah Kamens, the administration and development chair of GPN, to Judy Roth, GPN’s clinical and education chair.
The statement, which acknowledges the quickly changing political landscape of the world today, aims to outline how providers and volunteers (PAVs) can be helpful in preparing the necessary support for migrants, refugees, and internally displaced populations. The statement also looks at ways in which PAVs can do more harm than good, explores what steps need to be taken to provide a genuine network of support, and offers a set of resources for PAVs and the general population.
“The rapidly shifting political situation, alongside difficult on-the-ground circumstances, has led to uncertainty about the roles that mental health professionals, other healthcare providers, and psychosocial accompaniers (e.g., psychosocial volunteers, social justice / human rights activists, community volunteers, peer specialists, counselors, pastoral carers and/or faith-based workers) can and should take,” Kamens and the co-authors write.
[For more on this story by Gavin Crowell-Williamson, go to https://www.madinamerica.com/2...g-migrants-refugees/]
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