UNICEF Advances Disability-Inclusive Mental Health Support in New York Initiative (US)
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The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is spearheading a critical initiative in New York aimed at integrating disability and inclusion into Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) systems.
With a funding allocation of $19,500, the project targets cross-sectoral areas, specifically disability inclusion and general health, to ensure equitable access to mental health services for people with disabilities.
The initiative begins with the completion of fully accessible MHPSS training materials. These resources—including PowerPoint slides, a Co-Facilitator’s Guide, preparation guidance, and handouts—will be updated to meet the needs of individuals with a wide range of disabilities, such as physical, sensory, psychosocial, intellectual, and cognitive impairments. The materials will be prepared for dissemination in formats that uphold global accessibility standards.
A cornerstone of the project is the development of a Training of Trainers (ToT) toolkit. This toolkit is designed for agencies aiming to implement the training internally or with partners. It will emphasize the competencies required to deliver impactful capacity-building sessions and include guidance for contextualizing materials. Co-facilitators from the disability community will play a key role, ensuring equal participation and representation throughout the process.
To support broader implementation, UNICEF will offer a costed package for agencies interested in enhancing their internal capacity. This package will include tailored capacity-building sessions, ongoing post-training support, webinars, organizational mentorship, and a local helpdesk. It is particularly targeted at IASC members, local implementing partners, technical working groups, and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs).
At the country level, UNICEF will work closely with MHPSS Technical Working Groups by providing capacity-building webinars focused on disability inclusion. This will be done in partnership with local OPDs, encouraging their active participation in strategic planning and delivery.
UNICEF also plans to engage MHPSS surge roster members through an online workshop. This will ensure that global mental health responders are informed about the latest inclusive practices and tools, strengthening the quality of emergency responses.
Lastly, the initiative seeks to integrate OPDs into global, regional, and national MHPSS forums. By supporting OPD representation in key meetings like the IASC Annual Meeting and technical groups in emergency contexts, UNICEF aims to break down barriers and promote inclusive decision-making. A final report will explore the role of OPDs in these structures and provide recommendations on how their involvement can promote the adoption of inclusive MHPSS programming across humanitarian systems.
This initiative represents a strong step toward a more inclusive humanitarian response framework, ensuring that people with disabilities are not only considered but actively engaged in the design and delivery of mental health and psychosocial support worldwide.
