Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
The Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia provides a wide range of programs and activities for mental health and psychosocial support. Mental health and psychosocial support programs can have an invaluable impact on the lives of those in need, especially when delivered early after a disaster.
Our Work
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Center at the Red Cross of RNM represents a system for delivering psychological first aid and psychosocial support, aimed at protecting mental health and strengthening the resilience of Red Cross volunteers, staff, and the population.
The Center operates through four components:
- Psychosocial support for staff and volunteers
- Work with the population
- Crisis intervention activities
- Collaboration with institutions
The Center coordinates mental health and psychosocial support activities and contributes to the development of the psychosocial component at the national level through the Red Cross branches.
What We Offer?
Psychosocial support for staff and volunteers:
- Activities for training staff and volunteers in psychological first aid
- Strengthening resilience through various educational workshops
- Teaching techniques for managing stress and stressful events
- Establishing support groups and other types of interventions
Work with the population:
- Campaigns to raise awareness on reducing stigma related to mental health and psychosocial support
- Promoting positive mental well-being and overcoming the stigma often surrounding mental health conditions
- Education through psycho-educational materials on responses to stress and coping mechanisms
- Psycho-education at the national level
- Psychosocial support through helplines
- Psychosocial support and psychological counseling for individuals at social risk
- Psychosocial support for older people and individuals with disabilities
- Psychosocial support for displaced persons, migrants, asylum seekers
- Psychological support through collaboration with institutions and organizations
Crisis Response Activities:
- Establishment of a national psychosocial support team for crisis interventions that operates nationwide during natural disasters, traffic accidents, and other large-scale emergencies.
- Psychosocial support teams consist of professionals and volunteers with expertise in psychology, medicine, and social work.
Collaboration with Institutions:
- Training and workshops for first psychological aid and stress responses for emergency service personnel
- Collaboration with institutions in establishing programs to strengthen the resilience of the population
- Establishing a referral system after psychosocial assessments
- Integrating the psychosocial component into the national crisis response system.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crisis Situations
Disasters and emergencies affect not only people’s physical health but also their mental health and well-being. Addressing global mental health and psychosocial needs is a vital part of the Red Cross of RNM’s work to support communities.
Armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies often expose people to highly distressing events. People face losses and serious damage to human dignity. If left unaddressed, these wounds can cause severe and long-term harm to individuals, families, communities, and entire societies.
Psychosocial Support Helplines
Target Group: General population and vulnerable groups
- +389 72 271 048 Skopje
- +389 71 338 081 Kochani
- +389 203 030 Shtip
Psychological First Aid and Psychosocial Support for the families of the deceased and the entire population in the Red Cross Regional Office Kochani
Monday – Friday with prior appointment at +389 78 785 266
Training for Psychosocial Support and Psychological First Aid in emergencies and crises
Target group:
- Red Cross volunteers and employees
- Employees in crisis management institutions
- Teachers, professors, and other professionals
- Secondary school students
- University students
Psychological Debriefing
Target group:
- Red Cross volunteers and employees providing initial response during and after emergencies and crises
- Representatives of crisis management institutions
- Individuals injured during emergencies and crises and their families
- General population
Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities
Target group:
- General population
- Mobile psychosocial support teams at public gatherings/events
- Target group:
- General population
- Promotion Channels for Red Cross’s Psychosocial and Mental Health Offers:
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
- Local media (TV, radio, websites)
- Educational institutions
Register and learn more about the psychosocial and mental health services provided by the Red Cross by calling [+389 72 271 048 Mental Health Center] or visit [Red Cross RNM website] to sign up!