S4 Ep6: Protecting mental health in crisis contexts with Benjamin Perks and Sabine Rakotomalala

In Episode 6 of the series, Professor Belinda Lennox is joined by Benjamin Perks, from UNICEF, Sabine Rakotomalala, from the World Health Organization, and Dr Jamie Lachman, Dr Isang Awah and Stephanie Eagling-Peche from Oxford’s Department of Social Policy and Intervention. Here, they discuss the impact of trauma on mental health, how to protect children during a crisis and the resources developed collaboratively between Oxford, the WHO and UNICEF for the Parenting for Lifelong Health programme. Benjamin Perks is Head of Campaigns and Advocacy at UNICEF. Benjamin is a diplomat specialising in human rights in low- and middle- income countries, and has been advocating for, and advising governments on, access and quality of education, child protection, health and justice sector reform. Sabine Rakotomalala is Technical Officer in the World Health Organization’s Violence Prevention Unit, part of the WHO’s Department for the Social Determinants of Health. Sabine has a master’s degree in Child Psychology and has held various roles within the WHO, Terre des hommes and UNICEF aimed at brining awareness to and preventing violence against children. Content warning: Please be aware that this episode refers to topics such as child abuse and mistreatment.