The International Organization for Migration (IOM) with financial assistance from the American, French and German governments has released the report of a psychosocial needs assessment carried out in Yola in April 2015.

The needs assessment identified the psychosocial needs of the displaced populations living in camps and host communities and also looked at the adequacy of existing resources available, using the community-based approach. The report is meant to be a reference point for all actors involved in efforts geared towards providing humanitarian assistance in Nigeria’s northeast, particularly in the area of psychosocial social support and mental health care.

The assessment revealed several weak points in the provision of psychosocial support (PSS) to the displaced populations. In general, it indicates that the absence of adequate psychosocial support services is a general issue; and particularly highlighted a huge gap in addressing mental health concerns of those affected by the humanitarian crisis.

Key recommendations from the assessment include the need to have a Standard Operating Procedure, including a referral pathway, for patients in need of specialized mental health care, and improved coordination through the creation of a group dedicated to mental health and psychosocial support discussions.

The assessment also underscores the need for livelihoods support and calls for the development of livelihood activities alongside psychosocial support activities for the affected populations, especially for particular vulnerable groups, such as women.

According to Luana Giardinelli, Project Manager for IOM’s PSS program, “Providing opportunities for the displaced population to take care for their own livelihood would contribute to strengthening their psychosocial well-being and would help ease the stress they are experiencing.”

Since July 2014, IOM has been providing psychosocial support to people who have been displaced by insurgency and counter-insurgency activities in Borno and Adamawa states. The program’s activities are aimed at:

• Understanding the psychosocial needs of the displaced populations.
• Provide direct psychosocial activities to the affected populations based on the needs assessment findings.
• Establish community mobilization groups.
• Strengthen the capacity of national actors to respond to the needs of the displaced populations.

The full report of the psychosocial needs assessment can be downloaded here.

For further information, please contact Luana Giardinelli, Project Manager, Psychosocial Support Programme, IOM Abuja Tel +234 (0) 706 702 6240) Email: lgiardinelli@iom.int