Heartbeat of Humanity
Heartbeat of Humanity is a podcast about mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The podcast is mainly for staff and volunteers in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, especially staff and volunteers working in mental health and psychosocial support services.
The podcast is produced by the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub supporting the RCRC Movement by providing mental health, psychosocial support, and capacity-building initiatives. Hosted by the Danish Red Cross (DRC), the Hub is a collaborative partnership involving the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the DRC.
Heartbeat of Humanity
Evidence from the Frontline: Mental Health in Crisis Affected Contexts, episode 2: Child Friendly Spaces
Do Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) really improve children’s mental health?
Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) are safe, structured places established quickly in emergencies where children can play, learn, and receive psychosocial support, to promote protection and wellbeing.
In this second episode, Sarah Harrison, Acting Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, speaks with Professor Alastair Ager, Queen Margaret University and Columbia University and Phiona Koyiet, MHPSS Lead, World Vision International, for a practitioner-focused reflection.
Together they examine what the evidence says about effectiveness and impact of CFS for children’s wellbeing, protection and mental health, drawing on rigorous research (see below) and unpack what this means in practice: setting and monitoring quality indicators, ensuring skilled facilitators (“animators”), and the importance of integrating CFS within a tiered system of care with clear referral pathways - since CFS are not ‘silver bullets’. They discuss field adaptations, cultural relevance, costs and staffing, and how evidence has shaped World Vision’s programming guidance.
Key resources for practitioners
Tools and guidance for monitoring and evaluating Child Friendly Spaces
The Toolkit for Child Friendly Spaces in Humanitarian Settings
Read more about the research:
Evidence from the Frontline: Mental Health in Crisis-Affected Contexts is a six-episode mini-series produced in collaboration between the MHPSS Hub and Elrha, designed for practitioners working in humanitarian and crisis contexts, the series highlights impactful interventions and practical insights from experts in the field.