Kabul, Afghanistan — Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) are recognized as essential components of humanitarian response and health programming, especially in challenging contexts like Afghanistan.
UNFPA is committed to coordinating and providing health, mental health, and psychosocial support services in Afghanistan, recognizing the disproportionate impact of psychosocial stressors on vulnerable women and girls. Limited mobility, poor living conditions, unemployment, illiteracy, and gender-based discrimination are all factors that contribute to the psychological distress faced by women who often have limited access to life-saving services.
To bolster the capacity of local health care service providers in addressing the critical issue of suicide, UNFPA, with the support of the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), conducted a five-day Suicide Prevention Training of Trainers (TOT) in Kabul.
Addressing a vital need
The TOT was specifically designed to strengthen the capacity of selected staff to deliver high-quality suicide prevention training within their operational areas. Participants were equipped with advanced knowledge, practical skills, and facilitation techniques necessary for identifying, responding to, and making appropriate referrals for individuals at risk of suicide.
Organized by UNFPA’s implementing partner, War Child Canada, the intensive training took place from 16 to 20 November 2025 in Kabul and brought together 26 participants from various implementing partners. Technical guidance for the training was provided by the MHPSS Specialist from UNFPA.
Key Training Outcomes
The comprehensive training covered a wide range of objectives, including:
- Understanding suicide, suicidal ideation, and behavior.
- Defining suicide and how it is viewed within the Afghan community.
- Identifying and eliciting risk and protective factors.
- Understanding and implementing assessment, management, and prevention strategies for suicidal behaviors and thoughts.
- Learning how to help survivors create a safety plan.
The methodology utilized a mix of lectures, power point presentations, participatory knowledge sharing, group activities (including presentations and practical work), role-plays, and practical facilitation practice. Through practical skills-building on risk assessment, safe referral pathways, and crisis response, the capacity building initiative enhances the quality and safety of MHPSS and protection services delivered by frontline health care providers. As a result, service providers are now better equipped to detect early warning signs, intervene appropriately, and ensure timely, coordinated support. This investment contributes to improved mental health outcomes, strengthened community resilience, and more accountable, life-saving service delivery.
Measurable impact
To document the immediate impact of the training, pre- and post-tests were administered. The results were encouraging, with an overall average knowledge improvement of 21.9 per cent among participants.
Participants' feedback highlighted the quality and utility of the training:
"This TOT has prepared me to train other staff in my province. Now I understand how to teach sensitive topics effectively. I gained new facilitation skills and feel ready to conduct training sessions," said Sadia Saifee Amiri, MHPSS Technical Officer, CARE International Afghanistan.
Hameeda, a psychosocial counsellor from the International Medical Corps, said: “Before this training, I was unsure how to respond to a suicidal client. Now I feel confident to assess risk and provide immediate support.”
“This was one of the most needed trainings. We face many cases, now we have proper tools to manage them,” said Laili Mirza, from MOVE.
The participants' quotes confirm the training's success in building the confidence and practical skills necessary for frontline workers to address this sensitive and critical issue. The newly trained trainers are now positioned to cascade this essential knowledge to colleagues in their respective provinces, significantly expanding the reach of life-saving suicide prevention support across Afghanistan.