“Mental Health Matters: Expanding Psychosocial Support Services in Middle Eastern Communities”

Executive Summary

Background and Rationale

Middle Eastern countries face unique mental health challenges resulting from decades of political instability, displacement, poverty, and exposure to violence. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychosocial disorders is increasing, particularly among refugees, women, children, and youth. However, mental health infrastructure is often weak, with limited funding, few trained professionals, and a high level of social stigma.

A community-centered approach that integrates psychosocial support into primary healthcare and social services is crucial to address these gaps. This proposal builds upon existing local capacities and introduces scalable, evidence-based interventions to reach those most in need.

Problem Statement

Mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of public health in the Middle East, where decades of conflict, displacement, poverty, and social instability have taken a severe psychological toll on individuals and communities. Despite a growing burden of mental health conditions—ranging from depression and anxiety to trauma-related disorders—access to adequate care remains extremely limited. A combination of factors, including cultural stigma, lack of trained professionals, under-resourced healthcare systems, and minimal integration of mental health into primary care services, prevents people from receiving the help they need.

Particularly vulnerable groups such as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women and girls affected by gender-based violence, and youth in marginalized urban or rural settings face heightened risks yet often fall through the cracks of formal health systems. Mental illness is still heavily stigmatized, discouraging open discussion and help-seeking behaviors. As a result, untreated mental health issues contribute to rising social problems, economic hardship, and the deterioration of community cohesion. Without strategic intervention, the mental health crisis in the region will continue to grow, exacerbating existing inequalities and undermining long-term recovery and development efforts. There is an urgent need for scalable, community-based, and culturally sensitive psychosocial support systems that address both immediate needs and long-term resilience.

Goal and Objectives

• Goal

  • The overarching goal of this project is to enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of psychosocial support services in vulnerable communities across the Middle East. In many of these areas, mental health services are either severely under-resourced or entirely absent, leaving individuals—especially those affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, or gender-based violence—without the support they need to cope, recover, and thrive.

  • To address these gaps, the project seeks to build a sustainable and community-rooted mental health infrastructure that is both inclusive and culturally sensitive. This involves establishing dedicated mental health hubs, integrating psychosocial services into primary health care, and training local professionals to ensure long-term service delivery. In parallel, the project will focus on raising public awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors through targeted campaigns and community engagement. Ultimately, the initiative aims to create a resilient support system that empowers individuals, strengthens community wellbeing, and ensures that mental health care is treated as a fundamental component of public health in the region.

• Objectives 
  • Establish 10 Community-Based Mental Health Hubs in Target Regions
    • The project aims to set up 10 fully functional, strategically located community mental health hubs across conflict-affected and underserved regions. These hubs will provide a safe and confidential space for individual and group counseling, mental health screenings, psychosocial support sessions, referrals, and community education. Each hub will be equipped with trained personnel, essential materials, and digital tools to facilitate effective service delivery and data management.
  • Train 150 Community Health Workers and Local Counselors in Basic Psychosocial Support and Referral Mechanisms
    • A core component of the initiative is to build local capacity by training 150 individuals, including existing community health workers, social workers, and local volunteers. Training will focus on basic psychosocial support, Psychological First Aid (PFA), identification of mental health concerns, and appropriate referral pathways. Participants will also receive modules on confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and safeguarding. Follow-up mentorship and supervision will ensure skills retention and quality control.
  • Conduct Outreach and Awareness Campaigns Reaching 100,000 Individuals to Reduce Stigma and Promote Mental Health Literacy
    • To address stigma and misconceptions around mental illness, the project will implement wide-reaching public awareness campaigns through radio, social media, schools, mosques, community events, and printed materials. These campaigns will aim to normalize conversations around mental health, educate individuals on signs and symptoms, encourage help-seeking, and promote community support. Particular attention will be given to engaging youth, women, religious leaders, and educators as change agents.
  • Integrate Psychosocial Support into at Least 20 Primary Healthcare Facilities Through Technical Assistance and Supervision
    • The project will work closely with Ministries of Health and local health providers to embed basic mental health care within 20 primary health care (PHC) centers. This will include training of PHC staff, provision of screening tools, development of referral systems, and regular technical supervision. Integration will ensure that mental health is treated as a core component of overall wellbeing, facilitating early intervention and reducing the treatment gap for mental disorders.

Target Population

• Conflict-Affected Individuals, Including Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
  • People displaced by war, political instability, or violence—whether across borders (refugees) or within their own countries (IDPs)—often face intense psychological trauma, loss, and prolonged uncertainty. The project will offer culturally sensitive psychosocial support to help these individuals cope with grief, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, while also assisting with social reintegration and resilience-building.
• Adolescents and Youth (Ages 12–24)
  • Young people are at a critical stage of development and are particularly vulnerable to emotional and behavioral issues stemming from family breakdown, displacement, poverty, or peer pressure. This project will focus on equipping youth with mental health knowledge, coping mechanisms, and access to supportive environments in schools and community centers. Peer support groups, school-based counseling, and youth-led advocacy will also be key components.
• Women and Girls, Especially Survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
  • Women and girls face unique mental health risks related to gender-based violence, discrimination, and caregiving burdens. Survivors of GBV often experience trauma, depression, and feelings of isolation. This project will provide confidential, trauma-informed psychosocial support tailored to their needs, and strengthen referral systems to legal, medical, and protection services. Empowerment programs will also be included to support recovery and resilience.
• Individuals with Pre-Existing Mental Health Conditions
  • People living with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health disorders—such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia—often lack access to consistent care or face social stigma. The project will work to improve access to treatment, community-based support, and crisis intervention. It will also aim to reduce stigma by promoting mental health literacy within the general population.
• Underserved Rural and Urban Communities
  • Many low-income communities in both rural and urban settings have limited or no access to mental health services. The project will establish community mental health hubs and mobile outreach teams to reach these populations. Interventions will be tailored to the local context, leveraging community leaders and grassroots organizations to ensure trust and engagement.

Proposed Interventions and Activities

•  Community Mental Health Hubs

  • Set up safe, inclusive spaces offering counseling, peer support, group therapy, and psychoeducation.

  • Staffed by trained local professionals and supervised remotely by psychologists.

•  Capacity Building

  • Conduct a series of trainings for health workers, educators, and social workers on mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, and referrals.

  • Develop training manuals and culturally appropriate materials in Arabic and other local languages.

• Outreach and Awareness

  • Launch multi-platform public awareness campaigns using radio, social media, and community events to reduce stigma.

  • Collaborate with religious leaders, teachers, and community influencers.

• Integration into Health Systems

  • Support primary healthcare centers to include screening, brief interventions, and referral pathways for mental health.

  • Establish a mobile supervision system to provide ongoing support to frontline workers.

Implementation Plan and Timeline

Partnerships and Stakeholders

• Local NGOs and Mental Health Associations
  • Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and professional mental health associations will play a central role in service delivery, outreach, and training. With their deep understanding of local dynamics and community needs, they will help facilitate access to hard-to-reach populations, deliver psychosocial services, and provide input on culturally relevant practices. These partners will also support recruitment and supervision of community health workers, ensuring consistency and quality in care.
• Ministries of Health and Education
  • Government ministries are critical for institutional alignment and sustainability. The Ministry of Health will be engaged to integrate community-based mental health into primary healthcare and national policies. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education will collaborate on embedding mental health education in schools, training teachers, and identifying students in need of psychosocial support. Joint planning and policy advocacy will aim to secure budget allocation and promote long-term government ownership.
• UNHCR and Other Humanitarian Actors
  • Partnerships with international agencies such as UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM will help address the needs of displaced populations, refugees, and migrants, who are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges. These organizations can provide technical expertise, coordinate protection services, and align interventions with ongoing humanitarian efforts to ensure comprehensive and non-duplicative support.
• Academic Institutions for Training Collaboration
  • Universities and training institutes will contribute to curriculum development, delivery of capacity-building sessions, and academic research. Collaborations will ensure that training materials are evidence-based, culturally adapted, and aligned with international best practices. Academic partners may also support monitoring and evaluation efforts, including the design and analysis of impact assessments.
• Community and Religious Leaders for Advocacy
  • Community elders, religious leaders, and local influencers will be engaged as key allies in combating stigma and promoting mental health awareness. Their endorsement and active involvement in campaigns, dialogues, and events will foster trust, increase community acceptance of services, and encourage individuals to seek support. These leaders will also serve as cultural gatekeepers, helping to ensure that project messaging is respectful and resonant.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

A robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework will be established to track progress, assess outcomes, and ensure accountability throughout the life of the project. The project will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative indicators to evaluate its effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.

• Key Monitoring Indicators and Tools:

  • Number of Individuals Accessing Psychosocial Services

    • The project will monitor the number of beneficiaries receiving mental health and psychosocial support through the established community hubs and outreach activities. Disaggregated data will be collected based on age, gender, and location to ensure equity in access and identify underserved groups.

  • Number of Health Workers Trained and Retained

    • Data will be collected on the number of community health workers, counselors, and facilitators trained through the project. Retention rates and follow-up assessments will help measure how effectively training is sustained and applied in practice.

  • Pre- and Post-Assessments of Mental Health Knowledge and Stigma

    • Surveys will be administered before and after training sessions and awareness campaigns to evaluate changes in mental health literacy, attitudes toward mental illness, and reduction in stigma among both service providers and community members.

  • Service Satisfaction Surveys and Focus Groups

    • Periodic feedback will be gathered from beneficiaries through structured satisfaction surveys and focus group discussions. These qualitative methods will provide insights into user experiences, perceived relevance of services, cultural appropriateness, and suggestions for improvement.

  • Routine Data Collection and Quarterly Review Meetings

    • Routine monitoring data will be collected using standardized tools and mobile data systems where applicable. Quarterly review meetings with project staff, partners, and stakeholders will be held to analyze findings, identify gaps, and refine implementation strategies as needed.

• Final Evaluation:

  • Comprehensive Evaluation at Project End:

    • A full evaluation will be conducted at the conclusion of the project to assess the following key dimensions:

      • Impact – the extent to which project objectives were achieved

      • Relevance – how well the project addressed actual community needs

      • Efficiency – whether resources were used optimally

      • Effectiveness – the success of interventions in producing desired results

      • Sustainability – likelihood of long-term continuation of outcomes

  • Mixed-Method Approach:

    • Quantitative analysis of field data (e.g., service uptake, training completion, knowledge gains)

    • Qualitative feedback from key stakeholders, including beneficiaries, health workers, and local leaders

    • Focus group discussions and interviews to gather in-depth perspectives on experiences and perceptions

  • Learning and Improvement Focus:

    • Identification of best practices and successful approaches

    • Recognition of challenges encountered and how they were addressed

    • Extraction of lessons learned to guide improvements and adaptations

  • Scalability and Replication:

    • The evaluation will generate actionable recommendations for scaling up the model in other regions or countries

    • Emphasis will be placed on adaptability to different cultural and social contexts within the Middle East

  • Dissemination and Use of Findings:

    • Results will be shared with government stakeholders, donors, and partners

    • Evaluation findings will support policy advocacy, funding proposals, and cross-sector learning

    • Ensures transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making for future programming

Sustainability Strategy 

To ensure long-term impact and continuity beyond the project period, the following sustainability measures will be integrated into the program design:

• Strengthen Local Capacity Through Train-the-Trainer Models
  • The project will adopt a train-the-trainer approach to build a strong foundation of skilled mental health advocates within communities. Selected local health workers, educators, and social service providers will undergo intensive training, equipping them with both psychosocial skills and the capacity to train others. These trainers will then cascade the knowledge to peers and community members, creating a multiplier effect and ensuring that knowledge and skills remain embedded within the community long after the project’s conclusion.
• Advocate for Policy Integration and Budget Allocation for Mental Health Services
  • A key pillar of sustainability involves influencing national and local health policy. The project will engage with relevant ministries, policymakers, and stakeholders to advocate for the inclusion of psychosocial support within public health systems. Efforts will focus on securing dedicated government budgets for community mental health, integrating mental health into primary healthcare services, and promoting the adoption of national standards and protocols to institutionalize care delivery.
• Equip Community Hubs to Operate Beyond Project Funding Through Local Partnerships and Volunteer Networks
  • Community mental health hubs established during the project will be designed to function independently post-funding. This will be achieved by forging partnerships with local NGOs, universities, health facilities, and municipal bodies who can provide ongoing support, staffing, and management. The project will also mobilize and train volunteers, including youth and retired professionals, to contribute to activities such as peer support groups, awareness events, and basic administrative tasks—creating community ownership and reducing reliance on external resources.
• Digitize Training Modules for Continued Access
  • To promote continuous learning and capacity retention, all training content developed during the project will be digitized and made accessible online or via mobile platforms. These digital modules will be available in local languages and tailored to various user groups, including frontline workers, educators, and caregivers. By leveraging digital tools, the project ensures that training materials can be revisited, shared, and used in future programs, fostering long-term knowledge dissemination and professional development.

Budget Estimate 

Conclusion

By expanding psychosocial support services across the Middle East, this project will directly respond to the growing mental health crisis exacerbated by prolonged conflict, displacement, poverty, and social stigma. The initiative recognizes that mental well-being is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of healthy, resilient communities. By establishing accessible community mental health hubs, training local health providers, and integrating psychosocial care into existing health systems, the project aims to bridge the significant service gap and ensure that individuals—particularly those in vulnerable situations—can receive timely, appropriate, and culturally sensitive support. These efforts will not only alleviate the burden of untreated mental illness but also foster a sense of hope, belonging, and emotional stability within communities struggling with compounding challenges.

Moreover, this initiative takes a transformative approach by challenging stigma and promoting mental health as a shared community responsibility. Through widespread awareness campaigns and active engagement with local leaders, educators, and families, the project will encourage open dialogue and normalize help-seeking behaviors. Empowering individuals with coping skills, mental health literacy, and access to support services will enable communities to better withstand future crises and build a sustainable framework for psychological resilience. In doing so, the project lays the foundation for a healthier, more inclusive, and emotionally empowered Middle East where mental wellness is prioritized and protected for future generations.