Social stigma in the context of health is the negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a specific disease. In an outbreak, this may mean people are labeled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, and/or experience loss of status because of a perceived link with a disease. The current COVID-19 outbreak has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against people of certain ethnic backgrounds as well as anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus.
This checklist put together by the WHO, IFRCm UNICEF and WHO contains recommendations from the John Hopkins Center and gives in 5 pages a handy overview over the issue.
The main aim of the manual is to provide those responsible for MHPSS in emergencies with a reference document that can help them in the practical implementation of their activities with a community-based approach. Some of the activities aimed at strengthening the social fabric and helping people overcome their distress described in the manual include sociocultural, artistic, and educational programs and workshops, sport and play, rituals and celebrations, counselling and clinical and social support for those with severe mental disorders. The manual describes ways to integrate mental health and psychosocial support in other activities, like livelihood support, protection of vulnerable cases, and conflict transformation.
The communication guidelines presented in this report build on the systematization of good practices on DRR communication in the Caribbean region, by presenting guidelines to expand and replicate the good practices in a systematic, consistent manner. The guidelines aim to support mutual reinforcement of good practices and enhanced effectiveness. The guidelines also reflect linkages to the work done by DIPECHO partners in Central America and South America, to ensure consistency and harmonization of practices.