At the earliest opportunity in the RSD process, Eligibility Officers responsible for determining the refugee status of Applicants with mental health conditions or intellectual disabilities should coordinate with other Protection staff and when required, liaise with partners for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), to inform the RSD procedures and accommodate any specific protection needs and vulnerabilities of such Applicants during the RSD process. Any protection concerns that arise during the RSD procedures and that require a protection response should be brought to the attention of the relevant Protection staff without delay. It is recommended that UNHCR Offices establish procedures to facilitate the coordination of protection interventions and sharing of relevant information pertaining to Applicants with mental health conditions and/or intellectual disabilities between Protection staff conducting registration, RSD and other protection activities. Insofar as possible, the Eligibility Officer should discuss, prior to the interview, with the Applicant and his/her support person and legal representative, where available, what, if any, specific measures or accommodations could reasonably be implemented to maximize effective participation of the Applicant at interview. These may include the identification of a support person and their attendance at the interview, re-scheduling of the interview in order to allow for access to including services for mental health and psychosocial support or other specialized services, scheduling of multiple shorter interviews, tailoring the interviewing techniques and integration of other forms of expression, such as drawing or writing. The Eligibility Officer should also consult with relevant Protection staff and, where applicable, implementing partners or medical or MHPSS professionals who have been in contact with the Applicant regarding any specific needs he/she may have and means to accommodate them to the extent possible. Consideration should also be given to the interviewing environment, in particular the set-up of and materials in the room, the seating arrangements, as well as any necessary security measures that may need to be put in place in order to ensure the safety of the Applicant and UNHCR staff participating in the interview (See Unit 2.4- Office Security). The Applicant’s capacity to understand the RSD process and procedures should inform the way that the RSD Interview is to be conducted, in particular the interviewing techniques and communication methods. Regular breaks or multiple and/or shorter RSD interviews, as well as the presence of a support person may be useful to facilitate the Applicant’s meaningful participation in the RSD interview and encourage full and truthful disclosure. At the beginning of the RSD Interview, the Eligibility Officer should take particular care to explain, in a manner that the Applicant would understand, the procedures and objective of the interview, including the fact that the interview may need to cover issues that may be difficult for the Applicant to talk about (for further guidance on the opening of the RSD Interview see § 4.3.6 – Opening the RSD Interview). In cases where the Applicant is reluctant to discuss particular facts or events relevant to the determination of his/her claim, it may be appropriate to provide additional counselling or to postpone or cease questioning on the particular aspect of the account, including in order to avoid re-traumatization. Where the Applicant becomes distressed, manifests aggression or other behaviour impeding the interview, including refusal to cooperate with the Eligibility Officer or interpreter, the Eligibility Officer may call for a break or stop and reschedule the interview in order to de-escalate any mounting tension or fear in the Applicant, to minimize the risk of self-harm, and to ensure the safety of UNHCR staff. The case may also be reassigned to a different/more experienced Eligibility Officer and/or Interpreter if this might encourage the Applicant to be more forthcoming regarding information relevant to his/her claim; however, due care should be taken not to unnecessarily re-interview the Applicant and risk retraumatisation. 92 Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR’s Mandate