UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG) is a professional body comprising qualified mental health practitioners working in the positions of Staff/Stress Counsellors[1] in the UN and affiliated organisations. The UNSSCG is formally established under the HR Network. UNSSCG provides subject matter expertise on issues of mental health and wellbeing in the UN workplace through active involvement in the development of policies and/or guidelines related to well-being and mental health in the workplace. As the professional body, UNSSCG also provides guidance on the practice of counselling and psychosocial support to staff in the UN system through:
1. Establishing the professional standards for UN counsellors including the minimum qualifications required, licensure and registration, continuous professional education, supervision and ethical principles that must be adhered to; and
2. Defining the scope of practice for counsellors in the UN system and providing related professional guidance.
UNSSCG members seek to continuously expand their understanding of the UN workplace and dynamics that affect the mental health and wellbeing of personnel. Their interventions are evidence based as well as knowledge of the UN workplace. Currently there are around 250 Staff/Stress Counsellors in the system.
The annual meeting of UNSSCG convenes the Staff/Stress Counsellors in order to focus on practice and latest developments relevant to mental health and wellbeing in the UN workplace. The counsellors are invited to showcase their practices, exchange the projects they are developing, share the challenges and brainstorm way forward, and learn about the latest approaches in mental health area for the humanitarian workers. This being the 25th meeting over the past 25 years is a testament to the commitment of this group to create the space for mental health and wellbeing of the UN workforce across different organisations. The attendance in the meetings have been steadily growing both in person and on-line which indicates the relevance and the importance of this annual gathering.
[1] For the purpose of this document, the functional title of Staff/Stress Counsellor represents the variety of functional titles used across the system for the role of the mental health professional supporting staff including but not limited to Staff Welfare Officer, Psychologist and Staff Wellbeing Officer.
