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Psychosocial support in the midst of the 2012 Mali crisis: a rapid overview of the current situation
Diarra Sekou1, Dembele Alou2, Diarra Tiecoro3, Keita Fatoumata4, Pehe Celine5, Virginia Perez6, Sow Boubacary7, Sow Daouda8, Traore Bedo9, Traore Yaya10, Emmanuel Streel11
1 child protection specialist for UNICEF in Mali
2 programme manager (‘chargé deprogramme’) at the ‘Direction Nationale du Développement Social’ of the Government of Mali
3 project manager at the Association pour la Promotion des Aides Familialesetles Enfants, Mali., Mali
4 health programme manager (‘chargée du programme santé’) for IOM, Mali., Mali
5 social assistant for Village d'enfants Sakina, Mali., Mali
6 chief child protection program, UNICEF Mali., Mali
7 coordinator of the programme for sponsoring orphans (‘coordinateur programme de parrainage des orphelins’) for Islamic Relief, Mali., Mali
8 Head of the section head for social and legal family affairs (‘chef de section, statut social et juridique de la famille) at the ‘Direction Nationale de la Protection de l’Enfant et de la Famille‘ of the Government of Mali
9 child protection and participation advisor for PLAN, Mali., Mali
10 coordinator for assistance to vulnerable children for Médecins du Monde, Mali., Mali
11 child protection consultant for UNICEF, Mali., Mali
Correspondence Address:
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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After military officers deposed the president of Mali in March 2012, rebels seized control of the northern parts of the country, and declared independence. The resulting political instability and insecurity in northern Mali has led to mass displacement of the population to the southern parts of the country. Local and international agencies have agreed to work together to develop a coherent and pragmatic psychosocial response to the crisis. Since June 2012, a group of Malian psychosocial professionals meet regularly to coordinate this immediate response. They have established a psychosocial task force, started to map and organise activities to assist affected people, and to strengthen the local capacity of other helpers. The authors highlight the importance of building on local expertise in order to develop appropriate and sustainable mental health and psychosocial support services in response the current crisis in Mali.
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