When we think of people that are fleeing conflict or being displaced by natural disasters, we rightly think about food, water and shelter as critical basic needs, but do we consider the psychological trauma that these populations have just undergone? How does mental health support factor into our relief responses? In this episode, we explore the critical role of mental health in humanitarian work with Weanne Estrada from the Adventist Relief and Development Agency. We discuss how mental health support can be integrated into disaster relief, refugee assistance, and community development, emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches and sustainable strategies.

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Resources and Links From The Show

Adventist Development and Relief Agency Online

Kaya Connect

Psychological First Aid Training from NCTSN

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

02:20 Weanne Estrada's background and motivation for humanitarian work
05:19 Refugee communities in the Philippines and their self-built systems
09:13 The importance of mental health in disaster response
12:22 Psychological first aid: what it is and how to do it
17:16 Measuring mental health in humanitarian settings
21:04 Sustainable mental health support and task shifting
25:14 Cultural sensitivity in mental health interventions
29:23 The role of churches in mental health support
37:48 ADRA's current projects and global engagement in Yemen, Myanmar, Sudan and Venezuela
41:00 Advice for those pursuing God's justice in nations

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License