Exploring links between psychosocial well-being and humanitarian shelter support

There is increasing recognition within humanitarian assistance programmes of shelter’s impact on mental health and well-being, including in complex emergencies and active conflict contexts. Although social aspects of distress are starting to inform humanitarian and development responses, various conceptual understandings of shelter, mental health and psychosocial well-being exist between humanitarian and academic literature. The limited body of research investigating the relationship between shelter, mental health, and well-being in active conflict contexts should be expanded to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within humanitarian shelter programming.

In February 2024, Medair initiated a study in the Balakliia territorial community (Balakliia), a rural area in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, to investigate the effects of humanitarian shelter programmes on the well-being of Ukrainians whose homes were damaged due to the ongoing Russian invasion. The overall aim of this study is to provide evidence for humanitarian actors on the ways in which shelter programming can contribute to improving people’s psychosocial well-being.

The specific objectives of this report are to explore the experiences of people in need and a) the effects of the invasion on their distress and overall well-being, b) the role of Medair shelter repair programmes on their distress and well-being, and c) opportunities to strengthen support for MHPSS and well-being through shelter programming...

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Cover picture: © Medair / Abdul Dennaoui

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