PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTS
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Focus of this workshop session
What are psychosocial assessments?
Why are assessments needed?
What kinds of assessments are there?
When are assessments done?
How do you do assessments?
Who conducts assessments?
Who provides information
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
What are psychosocial assessments?
• Tools that help to find facts about psychosocial wellbeing
and psychosocial needs
• Measure and report impact of disaster / crisis on
population (reactions, needs and resources) – including
impact on psychosocial wellbeing and coping
• Help to identify vulnerable sub-groups
• Guide the ‘where, when, what and how’ to planning and
implementing a psychosocial intervention
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Why are psychosocial assessments needed?
Partner buzz and group
brainstorm
Why are psychosocial
assessments needed after
every new disaster event or
in every new crisis situation?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Why are assessments needed?
All disaster and crises events are unique
Impact – people (physical, social, emotional) environment,
infrastructure, economic, political, cultural
Affected population – number, ages, gender
Reactions of – people, government, NGOs (local /
international), other assisting bodies
Needs – basic needs, psychosocial, medical, educational
Resources available – people, economic, political,
local and international assistance, etc.
Opportunities for responses
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Why are assessments needed?
Psychosocial
Assessments
Assumptions
Inappropriate
Unrealistic
psychosocial
Interventions
Realistic
Appropriate
Well-planned
Psychosocial
Interventions
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Two types of assessments
Needs assessments: explore impact of event; reactions,
needs and resources of affected population
Examples
• Rapid assessments
• In-depth (detailed) detailed
assessments
• Continuous assessments
(monitoring)
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Types of assessments
Impact assessments: collects data that can be used
to measure impact of psychosocial intervention /
response
• Baseline study
• Continuous assessments
(monitoring)
• Mid-term evaluations
• Final evaluations
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Psychosocial needs assessments foci
• Demographics: who, where, population
characteristics
• Impact of event: physical, social, emotional
• Problems: present and future
• Resources and capacities: to help themselves and
each other (coping mechanisms)
• Assistance needed
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Psychosocial impact assessments foci
• Demographics: who, where, population
characteristics
• Impact of event: physical, social, emotional (past
and present)
• Problems: Past, present and future
• Resources and capacities: to help themselves and
each other (coping mechanisms) before and now
• Assistance given already and still needed
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Impact assessments help us to determine
Impact of psychosocial intervention=desired impact or not?
Improved psychosocial well-being?
Need for adaptation of psychosocial intervention/response?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
When are assessments done?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
When are assessments done?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Rapid assessments
• Immediately after a disaster
• Collaborated effort between
responders (desired)
• Preparation for immediate
and urgent response
o Primary focus – survival:
basic and medical needs
Examples: Field and assessments coordination teams (FACT) and Regional
Disaster Response Teams (RDRT)
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Rapid assessments
Psychosocial foci
Shock, disorientation, major and minor distress,
immediate concerns, loss of ‘sense of place’
Typical response
• Psychological First Aid
• Restoring family links
• Restoration of ‘sense
of normality’
• “Normal reactions to
abnormal events”
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Example of assessment timeline
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Detailed assessments
• Weeks or even months after
crisis event
• Motivated by indication of
psychosocial needs
• Analysis of community
structures and opportunities
for long term psychosocial
interventions
Focus is on realistic, appropriate long-term interventions
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Example of assessment timeline
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Baseline study
•What is a baseline study?
•What is it used for?
•Has anyone been involved in designing or
collecting data for a baseline study?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Baseline study
• Designed and undertaken AFTER the intervention
has been planned
• Used to provide BASELINE or FIRST SET of data
to compare future monitoring and evaluation with
• Important tool for mid-term and final evaluations
• Measures INDICATORS of psychosocial wellbeing
– that are then measured again later
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Example of assessment timeline
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Continuous assessments
• Used for monitoring
purposes
• Keep track of
progress and
challenges
• Provide guidance for
needed adaptation
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Evaluations
• Mid-term and final
• Focus on past, present and future
• Larger and often more
costly than other
assessments
• Valuable information to
donors, program managers,
participants and
beneficiaries, progressing
field of PSS.
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
How to conduct assessments
Two main types of data collected
Quantitative
Surveys
Questionnaires
Psychometric tools
1,2,3
=, %, a:b
Qualitative
Key informant interviews
Focus Group Discussions
Observations
Word descriptions
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
How to conduct assessments
In small groups discuss the two qualitative data collection
methods given below, answering the given questions.
Focus group discussions
Community mapping
1. What are they? How do you ‘do’ them?
2. Why are they useful in psychosocial interventions?
3. What considerations should you make regarding GENDER
and AGE of participants in these methods, and WHY?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Designing an assessment
1. Background
information
• Reports
• Documents
• Completed
assessments by
others
2. PSWB Info
• What info is
missing to
assess PSWB
and PSS needs?
3. Program
considerations
• Time frame:
short or long
term?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Designing an assessment
4. Data collection
Data collection
• Appropriate and effective
methods
• Review and adapt previous tools
• Ensure every question is
appropriately worded
• If possible, pre-test
• Suitable and well
trained data collectors
• Approach (bring
gifts/information
leaflets?, time of
collection, etc)
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Exploring psychosocial wellbeing
Contextually, culturally defined
MEANING of psychosocial wellbeing typically differs from
Population A to Population B
Buzz groups:
Can you think of different populations that you know, where
the meaning of psychosocial wellbeing differs?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Exploring psychosocial wellbeing
Example questions:
• How do you know when people in your community are
doing well? Not doing well? (meaning of PSWB)
• How are they doing now? (PSS needs)
• What has changed in your daily life and in the community
following the crisis event? (meaning and needs)
• How are people helping each other? (coping, social
support systems)
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Exploring psychosocial wellbeing
• What were the good things in your life prior to the crisis
event? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs)
• What changes would be desirable for you and for your
community in the next month and within a year? (meaning of
PSWB, PSS needs)
• What would be good for the children? (meaning of PSWB,
PSS needs)
• How can you and your community contribute towards such
changes? (coping, resources)
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Death of loved ones
Witness
death/traumatic
events
Separation from family
members
Injury
Perception and
understanding of
event
Traumatic
experiences
Feelings of stress
Disturbing and
unusual behaviour
Social
Name/age/gender
Loss of livelihoods
Loss of house
Previous experience
Psychological
Basic Information
Examples of focus areas in PSS assesments
Family structure
Status in the
community
Available support
systems
Access to assistance
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data
Who should collect data in a population affected by a crisis?
Local volunteers
• Trained in basic
psychosocial
support
• Trained in
appropriate data
collection
approach
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data
Who provides the information?
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data
Who provides the information?
Local
administration
Teachers
Parents
Children
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data - triangulation
Adults
FGDs
Same
Topic
Children
FGDs
Youth
FGDs
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data - triangulation
Adults
FGDs
Same
Topic
Adults
Key informant
interviews
Adults
surveys
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting psychosocial data
Affected population
Sensitive, emotional topics
Painful experiences
High levels of distress
Fearful of the future/unknown
Staff and volunteers
Training +
supervision
- Providing
PFA/PSS
- Peer support
- Self-care
Affected
population
Providing data
= sharing
= finding solutions
= empowerment
= coping
= improve PSWB
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data
Ethical principals to data collection
1. Well planned and
justifiable
2. Coordination
3. Clarifying aims and
procedures
4. Participatory and
collaborative
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Collecting the data
Ethical principals to data collection
5. Comparison groups
6. Conduct and consent
7. Privacy and confidentially
8. Anticipate adverse
consequences
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Interviewing children
Ethical principals to data collection with children
•
Inform community
•
Consent from caregiver
AND child
•
Interview in safe spaces
•
Specific training for working
with children
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Assessment analysis and action
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT
Final considerations
In groups of 4 discuss the 2 following statements and
then explain further to plenary
1. It is important to conduct psychosocial assessments
in collaboration with other stakeholders working in the
same area with the same population.
2. Share findings of psychosocial assessments with
others, both working with psychosocial and with other
focus areas.