ACRE Resource Center
Resource materials curated by the WPA Advisory Committee on Responses to Emergencies (ACRE)
to support and guide responses to traumatic events
As psychiatrists and mental health professionals, we know it is not only the physical effects of the war that are detrimental to society, but also the mental health effects. As well as supporting people with mental ill health, supporting everybody’s mental health is key.
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Below you will find a number of trusted sources and resources to help us support and guide our response to the mental health challenges people face during traumatic times.
This page will be updated as we receive more and new information. You can submit any resources developed by your own organisation here, stating that the resource is for this purpose. We encourage you to bookmark this page and check back regularly.
RESOURCES
Scroll down to explore our full list of resources
Resources from Trusted Partners
Please click here for more information relevant to specific global events
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EPA Trauma Resource Centre
The EPA and its partners have collected key resources on how to cope with trauma and humanitarian emergencies.
Report and Guidelines
IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings – Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
Available in English
Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers – World Health Organisation (WHO).
Available in English
Presentation on Psychological First Aid For All – WHO.
Available in English.
Operational guidance, mental health & psychosocial support programming for refugee operations – UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Available in English.
Clinical Management of Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Conditions in Humanitarian Emergencies – WHO and UNHCR.
Available in English.
Recommendations for dealing with people in crisis situations and following difficult life events – Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe.
Available in English, Ukrainian and Russian. (Also available in German, Hungarian, Romanian, French, Polish, Slovak).
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Videos and E-Learning Modules
Webinar on the Principles and Practice of Psychological First Aid – Royal College of Psychiatrists (27 May 2021).
Video available in English.
Free eLearning module on “Complex humanitarian emergencies: mental health and psychosocial response” – Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Available in English.
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Free Psychosocial Support
You will find below a list of initiatives and information provided by EPA members, the EPA is not responsible for materials or information provided in third party websites.
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Interactive 12 Steps Safety Plan developed as part of the EU Erasmus+ Project “E-LLIPSE”, available in English.
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Self help material from the Pompidou Group
The Pompidou Group, together with leading European psycho-trauma experts, has developed recommendations on how people can better interact and communicate with persons who have experienced a crisis or difficult life event.
(These recommendations were developed in 2022 at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior, in light of the traumatic situations experienced by the Ukrainian population due to the ongoing Russian hostilities in Ukraine, but are applicable in any interaction or communication with affected persons.)
The recommendations are now available in 10 languages, which can be downloaded below:
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Resources from the Royal College of Psychiatrists
The RCPsych has built up a body of knowledge from the responses it has provided to other international emergencies, and has put together some essential resources for dealing with humanitarian emergencies and crisis situations. These are all in English, unless stated otherwise).
eLearning Hub: Complex humanitarian emergencies: mental health and psychosocial response
eLearning podcast: The mental health needs of refugees
Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers
Free Webinar on the principles and practice of Psychological First Aid
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The impact on children is described well in the following paper War hits children first.​
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Information for parents, carers, family and friends:
Information in English
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The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network
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The College Library provides access to eBooks including this volume. To access please use the eBooks tab in the journals and databases search to look for ' Disaster Psychiatry: Readiness Evaluation and Treatment'.
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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Ersthelfer: MHFA offers "20 tips for people who care for refugees" to support all those who currently look after refugees and take them in. (These are available here in German, Russian, Ukrainian).
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The evidence-based MHFA guidelines for Mental Health First Aid for Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and Traumatic Events are available on the same page (also in German, Russian, Ukrainian).
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ECNP traumatic stress network
ECNP website on the traumatic stress network
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National Institute of Mental Health of Czechia & F-GIP
In English:
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Resources from WPA Scientific Sections, Standing Committees & Working Groups
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WPA Section on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (WPA-CAP) (All resources are in English, unless otherwise stated)
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Material for Parents and Teachers
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SAMHSA Tips for Talking to Children and Youth After Traumatic Event
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Children's Bureau, Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Terrorism and War: How to Talk to Children
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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North Dakota State University Talking to Children About Armed Conflict (FS636, Reviewed Dec. 2015)
Material for Mental Health Professionals
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Boston Children’s Hospital, Refugee and Immigrant Core Stressors Toolkit
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network, REVIEW OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Best Practices in Screening and Assessment of Refugee Youth
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network, TRAUMA SYSTEMS THERAPY FOR REFUGEES
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Impact of war on children and imperative to end war. Barbara JS - Croat Med J. 2006 Dec;47(6):891-4
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A scoping review of vicarious trauma interventions for service providers working with people who have experienced traumatic events. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse - Kim J, Chesworth B, Franchino-Olsen H, Macy RJ. 2021 Mar 9:1524838021991310
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Secondary traumatic stress among mental health providers working with the military: Prevalence and its work-and exposure-related correlates. The Journal of nervous and mental disease. Cieslak R, Anderson V, Bock J, Moore BA, Peterson AL, Benight CC. 2013 Nov;201(11):917
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Vicarious traumatization: implications for the mental health of health workers? Clinical psychology review. Sabin-Farrell R, Turpin G. 2003 May 1;23(3):449-80
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A Components-Based Practice and Supervision Model for Reducing Compassion Fatigue by Affecting Clinician Experience. Traumatology. Advance online publication. Miller, B., & Sprang, G. (28 January 2016)
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Ukraine specific materials
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EPA Trauma Resource Centre
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IASC Resource Package on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for the Humanitarian Response in Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries – Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
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Free Psychosocial Support
You will find below a list of initiatives and information provided by EPA members, the EPA is not responsible for materials or information provided in third party websites.
Free online psychological support at the Polish Ericson’s Institute, available Polish, English, Ukrainian, Russian and German.
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*Disclaimer: WPA reserves the right to select what is published in this resource library. Inclusion on this page should not be considered an endorsement of the information shared. WPA provides this library only as a means of sharing resources from, and between, its trusted partners. Any advice and recommendations on this page should be attributed directly to the document's author and are not necessarily the advice or recommendation of WPA.