Six months after the WHO Armenia refugee health response began, critical health needs persist

WHO is actively working to expand mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for Armenian refugee and host populations, in response to a critical need identified by refugees. One of the key initiatives in this effort is the establishment of a mobile team that travels weekly to affected communities to provide immediate MHPSS support. So far, over 973 individuals have received MHPSS consultations, with 16% being children and 35% being older people.

In addition to the mobile team, WHO is also focusing on enhancing the capacity of the MHPSS hotline. Operators on the hotline work in shifts, offering empathetic listening and referrals to callers experiencing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts. In the past 6 months, 10 operators have undergone specialized training and have responded to a total of 4546 calls.

Vahan Simonyan, a psychiatrist on the mobile team, highlights the ongoing acute mental health needs of the population, noting that long-term and chronic conditions like depression are being diagnosed. The refugees arriving in the region bring with them histories of mental health issues, which are now becoming more severe and apparent.

In response to the specific needs of burn patients, their families, and medical staff, WHO has provided over 1262 individual sessions to 149 individuals, including 96 burn patients, 32 family members, and 21 medical staff. Moreover, more than 360 nurses have received training on basic psychosocial skills, self-care, and stress management.

Six months after the influx of refugees from the Karabakh region, the demand for psychological support is increasing. This requires additional funding to integrate MHPSS services into primary health care and to further strengthen community resilience. WHO remains committed to addressing the mental health needs of the population and will continue to expand its efforts in this area.