Workshop focuses on mental health

AMMAN — Officials and members representing public, private and international organisations have come together for a workshop in Irbid to discuss best practices for mental health systems in Jordan.

Titled “Sharing Experiences and Best Practices about Mental Health System Strengthening”, the workshop was hosted and organised by Action Against Hunger’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Department, according to a statement from the organisers.

The workshop is part of the organisation’s multi-sectoral Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Mental Health intervention, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD), and funded by the European Union’s Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis (the MADAD fund). This project is conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the statement said.

“Working on the mental health sector should not be the responsibility of one organisation,” said Ahmad Bawaneh, director for Programmes for International Medical Corps Jordan and co-chair of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.

Officials from the Ministry of Health, Irbid Directorate of Health, Jordanian Universities, AFD, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, CARE, International Medical Corps, and many other organisations attended the workshop.

“Mental health is sometimes an issue with a stigma attached to it, but it is really important that we overcome that, and help people to find the support and care that they need,” said Wouter Schaap, country director for Action Against Hunger’s Jordan Mission.

“Jordan has been recognised as one of the top countries in adopting and implementing programmes that are bridging the mental health gap and care practices at medical centres. As a developed country, we are known for offering health services to mental health patients,” said Fateen Janim, the director of the Disabilities and Mental Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health in Jordan.

“The ministry has been developing a national action plan for mental health support working with the World Health Organisation to implement psychological services in primary health centres to reduce the stigma related to specialised mental health care,” Fateen said.

The workshop emphasised on the need for working with community-based organisations in Irbid. A similar workshop was conducted in Dahuk in Iraq. Results from both workshops will be published and exchanged during the regional workshop, which will take place in December of this year, concluded the statement.