Impact on mental and psychosocial well-being is one of the major consequences in disasters and critical incidents. Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is therefore an indispensable part in the overall emergency and disaster response. To address this issue, the World Health Organization and other leading disaster responding agencies had published guidelines on MHPSS implementation in emergency situations.

During this workshop, field application of these guidelines and implementation of MHPSS activities in the context of West Africa Ebola Virus Outbreak, Nepal earthquake, and various local emergency situations in Hong Kong will be discussed. More specifically, the role, duties, and challenges of a clinical psychologist working in a multidisciplinary disaster response team will be highlighted. Lessons learnt from these frontline experiences and good practices of field-based need assessment, program planning & implementation, clinical practice, and program evaluation during the disaster response and recovery phases are included.  Despite their tragic nature, emergencies also provide us with the chances and opportunities to further develop longer term, community-based mental health and psychosocial support system for all people in need, even during peace time.