War Child shortlisted for innovation award
Sept. 20, 2018
Amsterdam
A lack of treatment
Mental health factors account for nearly one third of the global total of years individuals live with disability. Yet less than a quarter of people living with mental health problems in low and middle income countries currently receive any mental healthcare treatment. For children living with the effects of armed conflict, the figure is even lower.
Ground-breaking innovation
War Child’s Community Case Detection (CCD) Tool could be the resource to meet this challenge – and has been shortlisted at the upcoming Spindle Awards for innovation in the humanitarian sector.
The ground-breaking innovation allows people without a professional health background to identify children at risk of severe emotional distress or mental illness.
How the CCD Tool works
The tool consists of a single page with an illustrated narrative. It lays out the story of a child experiencing mental distress, adapted in each case to the specific context. Rather than using checklists and symptom descriptions, the resource draws on people’s ability to quickly recognise patterns of behaviour. When a child is identified as in need of deeper support, the community member can quickly refer them to specialist care.
Potential for change
In close collaboration with partner organisations, the initiative is currently being piloted in War Child projects in Sri Lanka and the occupied Palestinian territories. Sector forecasting believes the tool could see a 50 percent increase in the number of children accessing services. A simple and affordable solution, the tool has already gained attention for its potential for impact in low-resource settings.
This year The Spindle honours awards in four categories. The Best Innovation for Development Award recognizes new solutions in development cooperation that contribute to a just, inclusive and sustainable world. War Child Holland will join the shortlisted candidates to present their initiatives at the Partos Innovation Festival on 11 October 2018.
Read more about the Spindle Awards and CCD Tool.
