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REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
As the Syria crisis enters its sixth year and refugees brace for further uncertainities, there is an increased demand for mental health and psychosocial services. A comprehensive approach to mental health care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and psychosocial services remains critical. Although the major challenge is the shortage of mental health specialists, a number of services are being implemented in the five countries by the 3RP partners.
In Lebanon and Jordan, mental health services are integrated in the primary health care level through the Mental Health Gap Action Programme which aims at providing persons who experience mental health, psychosocial or neurological disorders with appropriate and accessible immediate care. The ‘Makani’ spaces in Jordan continue to provide psychosocial support services under one roof for vulnerable children in communities across the country. As of December, 168,003 children (52 per cent girls) were provided with quality structured psychosocial support at the centres. A total of 12,419 children (11,955 in Makani) were newly registered for psychosocial support in the month of December alone. Three trainings focusing on profound stress, community-based child protection committees, and techniques for providing quality psychosocial support to affected population were conducted in Mafraq, Ghour al-Saifi, and Amman reaching 59 frontline workers.
In Iraq, during the month of December, a total of 1,301 people were provided with mental health care services at primary health care facilities (PHCs) in the refugee camps across the country.
In Turkey, two trainings were conducted on Mental Health Detection and Referral and Psychosocial Support for 35 field workers. A number of topics were discussed including mental disorders, case identification and referral in emergencies, stigma and human rights, and communication skills.