{"id":21819,"date":"2025-09-17T16:01:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T16:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pairstoglory.org\/web\/?p=21819"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:01:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T16:01:58","slug":"mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-mhpss-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-a-necessity-in-every-humanitarian-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pairstoglory.org\/web\/mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-mhpss-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-a-necessity-in-every-humanitarian-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is not a luxury \u2014 it is a necessity in every humanitarian response."},"content":{"rendered":"

In humanitarian emergencies, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is not a luxury \u2014 it is a necessity.<\/strong> The losses and disruptions caused by displacement leave deep emotional scars: grief, fear, anxiety, guilt, and hopelessness that can overwhelm an individual\u2019s ability to cope.<\/p>\n

At Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja<\/strong>, the reality is stark. The camp is home to over 7,776 displaced persons<\/strong> who fled violence and conflict across states like Borno, Adamawa, Zamfara, Plateau, and Kaduna. Families live in fragile houses that are constantly breaking down, with no proper restrooms<\/strong> or reliable infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Children here share in the daily struggles of their parents \u2014 carrying the weight of poverty, trauma, and uncertainty about the future. Many of them speak of wanting to return home to their states of origin<\/strong>, but for now, they remain in an environment where idleness and lack of opportunity<\/strong> expose them to serious risks, including substance abuse, exploitation, and crime<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Hidden Toll of Displacement<\/h2>\n

Prolonged stress and trauma harm children\u2019s development, increase the risk of mental health problems, and make it harder for them to succeed in education. Parents, overwhelmed by their own struggles, often lack the capacity to provide emotional support, while community networks that once held families together have weakened.<\/p>\n

The result is a cycle of hopelessness \u2014 one that must be broken.<\/p>\n

United by Sports: A Different Kind of Response<\/h2>\n

At Pairs to Glory Foundation<\/strong>, in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)<\/strong>, we believe in a different approach: using sports as a tool for healing, resilience, and empowerment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Through our initiative, United by Sports: Every Child Deserves an Opportunity<\/em>, we recently installed football and volleyball posts<\/strong> in Wassa Camp. These are not just structures \u2014 they are safe spaces where children and youth can:<\/p>\n