Building a Framework for Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing into Peace Policies

HealthNet TPO has been working for more than 30 years to strengthen mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Building on this expertise, over the past five years we have advanced the integration of mental health into peacebuilding through Women, Peace and Security (WPS) programmes in South Sudan and Colombia. These programmes, implemented under the mandate of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ National Action Plan on WPS with consortium partners, provide a unique perspective for promoting more inclusive and resilient peace policies. 

While some guidance exists on the link between mental health and peacebuilding, there is still little direction on how to systematically embed wellbeing into peace frameworks. Drawing on the lessons of a South Sudan and Colombia learning agenda coordinated by HealthNet TPO, this workshop explores concrete approaches for integrating mental health and psychosocial wellbeing into WPS and broader peace processes. 

By bridging practice and policy, the session will co-develop advocacy recommendations that position mental health and wellbeing as essential to the WPS agenda and future peace programming. The outcome will be actionable guidance for making peace policies, such as the WPS Agenda, more holistic, empowering, and adaptable across diverse contexts.