Persons with disabilities and persons with psychosocial disabilities more specifically, are already a vulnerable group before any disaster or crisis happens. During a humanitarian crisis, they are more likely to experience direct physical impact, but also increased distress, violence, exploitation and discrimination. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by humanitarian situations, but often overlooked in emergency response programmes and services across sectors. Disability inclusive humanitarian action is needed to ensure that the barriers faced by persons with disabilities are identified and removed, and that their participation and inclusion is ensured.

In this episode, Carine Weiss talks to Ben Adams about his passion for mental health and about what we mean by disability inclusive humanitarian action. We talk about the risks that persons with disabilities face in humanitarian emergencies and the impact of crises like COVID-19 on persons with disabilities, including on mental health.

Ben Adams is a Senior Mental Health Advisor with CBM Global Disability Inclusion. He has experience as a mental health clinician in Ireland, and globally as a mental health advisor and researcher. Ben currently leads on CBM Global MHPSS (The Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Network) work and is the Senior Advisor of their Community Mental Health Team where he focusses on both Asia and Africa regions. He has a passion for human rights, equity, and inclusion.