Expanding psychosocial support in the Middle East

Context

The armed conflict in Syria and the associated refugee crisis in the region are still ongoing 10 years after they began. Refugees, internally displaced people and vulnerable members of the host population are suffering high levels of psychosocial distress as a result. Despite numerous humanitarian and development-oriented measures, there are too few local and regional options to care for psychosocially distressed groups.

Objective

The professional and methodological knowledge of actors working in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is improved and enables the application of context-, trauma- and gender-sensitive approaches for psychosocially distressed people in the Middle East.

Approach

In the cooperation countries Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey (and indirectly Syria), the regional project supports the professional and methodological knowledge of MHPSS actors and people working in development cooperation. The project focuses on the adaptation of MHPSS approaches and methods to real-life practice and individual contexts.

Working with local civil society organisations, state actors and regional and global networks, the regional project pilots and documents local MHPSS experience and makes this available to professionals and organisations. Examples of thematic areas include a regional feminist MHPSS approach, creative arts-based approaches in suicide prevention and adapting MHPSS measures to the local context.

Dialogue and networks also enable local, regional and international MHPSS actors to come together and discuss lessons learned and good practice.

The regional project also raises awareness for MHPSS among development cooperation actors through advisory services and participatory development of guidelines. In addition to this, it uses the knowledge generated to advise the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) so as to position the topic of MHPSS on agendas and in forums.

Last update: April 2023