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Report: Integrating youth leadership into MHPSS responses in humanitarian settings

This research, a collaboration between the MHPSS Collaborative and master’s students at the Geneva Graduate Institute, shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked role of youth leadership in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) responses during humanitarian emergencies. Through an extensive literature review, interviews, and focus group discussions with young leaders, practitioners, experts, funders, and policymakers, we found that youth leadership can significantly enhance the impact and sustainability of MHPSS responses.

However, several barriers exist, including a lack of trust, limited resources, and exclusion from decision-making processes. To foster meaningful youth leadership, the report emphasizes the importance of adopting key principles such as intentionality, adaptability, equality, inclusivity, agency, and sustainability in partnerships and collaborations. It also provides practical strategies for organizations and stakeholders, ranging from policy changes and capacity building to ensuring young people’s safety and well-being.

This research underscores the urgent need to recognize and harness the potential of young leaders in MHPSS, serving as a call to action for stakeholders to ensure more robust, inclusive, and resilient MHPSS interventions in humanitarian settings.
The Integrating Youth Leadership into Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Responses in Humanitarian Emergencies collection includes this report from the research, a guidance note and an assessment scale.