Health, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Iraq
Health, and particularly mental health has been a major challenge facing the general population in Iraq. These mental health challenges that have been linked to the overall ill health of many Iraqis are as a result of the years of conflict, occupation and displacement that they have had to endure. These mental health challenges often present in the form of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The health and mental health challenges in Iraq haven’t been made any easier by the lack of infrastructure and capacity to help the population. This has led to most of these health concerns going untreated especially in the context of massive instability.
The Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights has been supporting survivors of severe human rights violations and their families through physical rehabilitation, mental well-being, and social reintegration programs in Iraq. This they manage to implement through the establishment of treatment centres in Kirkuk, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal, Halabja and Duhok in KRI as well as Al Qush and Mosul in Ninewa region.
In collaboration with Johanniter International Assistance, the Jiyan Foundation is implementing a project through which they are establishing an MHPSS centre in Baghdad to strengthen the Iraqi health system through capacity building of the Ministry of Health professionals in MHPSS. This also includes an establishment of a two-way referral pathway system for medical and MHPSS services. The collaboration is also seeking to strengthen social services through the capacity building of professionals from different Ministries such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs (MOLSA), and Ministry of Education while providing essential services including Health and MHPSS, social and legal support in an established Jiyan Centre and through outreach programs.
As part of our extensive work in MHPSS support in difficult contexts, Levante was contracted by Johanniter to conduct a feasibility study before the commencement of the collaboration project. The objective of the feasibility study was to verify the feasibility of Johanniter International Assistance’s proposed project to achieve its stated objectives. This involved an evaluation of the project objectives, structure, log-frame, and suggested activities. To this end, Levante employed a mixed-methods approach, making substantial use of primary qualitative data collected by an in-country team. Among the key sources of information in the study were key stakeholders in the health and mental health sector, Johanniter’s staff and their partners. The study approaches were adjusted where necessary in response to the developing Covid-19 pandemic.