This year, on October 10th, the celebration of World Mental Health Day comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The past months have brought new fears, new restrictions and new challenges which affected the lives of all of us. More than ever before it is critical that mental health and psychosocial support is available to everyone, including migrants and vulnerable or marginalized persons.

Disruption in mental health services disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. As mental health is just as important as physical health, we must ensure that everyone can get the help they need, regardless of their migration status. Access to health services and psychosocial support must be made affordable, culturally and linguistically appropriate and diverse and mainstreamed across all public sector services with dedicated outreach for migrants.

IOM with the help of partners, including international and national governmental organizations, NGOs, countries, and donors provides mental health assistance and psychosocial support services for migrants and forcibly displaced persons worldwide. Additional investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels is crucial for ensuring that no one is left out.

IOM has issued several guidelines and manuals with the purpose of facilitating mental health and psychosocial support for emergency-affected and displaced populations:

• IOM Manual: Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies and Displacement
• COVID-19 Guidance and Toolkit for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Teams / French
• Self-Help Booklet for Men Facing Crisis and Displacement
• Mental Health Promotion and Mental Health Care in Refugees and Migrants

Stakeholders working with these populations can make use of these documents to strengthen the capacity of their mental and psychosocial support programmes.

With united action we can move for mental health.