The impact of complex humanitarian emergencies on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of the population is multi-layered and endures long after the emergency.1 Studies have demonstrated that mental health and psychosocial support responses in emergency settings are often poorly coordinated, not evidence-based and not implemented within formal national frameworks.2 Research highlights the importance of cultural understanding, training, assessment, monitoring and evaluation.3,4 The Sphere handbook: humanitarian charter and minimum standards in humanitarian response 5 and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines for mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings provide standards on such implementation.1