The 5th Psychosocial Support Forum Resolutions

The 5th Psychosocial Support Forum themed “Breaking Barriers…Creating Connections” was hosted in Windhoek, Namibia from the 27th- 29th August 2019, with 362 registered participants from 24 countries around the world.

PSSForumLogo_2019.png

The Forum was co-hosted by REPSSI, UNESCO, Government of Namibia, Terre Des Hommes, RIATT-ESA, VSO, Firelight, Jacobs Foundation, EGPAF, CRINSA, Air Namibia, Sweden, and SDC. Though this partnership the forum achived its objectives of:

  1. Sharing experiences of and identifying strategies for PSS as an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals;

  2. Facilitating research collaboration, learning communities and communities of practice across disciplines, sectors, and initiatives to promote resilience in girls, boys, youth, families and communities;

  3. Influencing policy formulation and implementation to promote psychosocial and mental wellbeing of all children and families.

In addition, the breakaway sessions highlighted many issues and offered recommendations on how to improve various interventions. Crosscutting issues included:

  • The need for a comprehensive regional PSS database

  • The need for cross-country collaborations and exchanges in PSS

  • The need for regional guidelines on technology and PSS

  • The importance of empowered communities in PSS interventions

  • The importance of supporting the African boy child/man in PSS

  • The importance of resilience in PSS

  • The importance of demystifying mental health in PSS.

The Forum resolved to work towards the realisation of its resolutions in the next two years and report on progress at the next PSS Forum in 2021

Click here to read the forum resolutions and report.