Training on “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support” was held with the support of the EU and the IFRC

On August 8-11, 2023, under the project called “Bridging the Gap between Community Needs and Local Capacities and Capabilities of the Civil Society Actors in Azerbaijan”, the training on “Health and Psychosocial Support” was held with the support of the European Union (EU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The training was held for the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support(MHPSS) focal points by the IFRC under “Bridging the Gap between Community Needs and Local Capacities and Capabilities of the Civil Society Actors in Azerbaijan” project.

The main goal of the training was to strengthen the ability of the newly appointed MHPSS focal points within the frame of the newly developed MHPSS policy to effectively meet the needs of mental health and psychosocial support at the regional level. This approach will empower the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society to effectively meet the MHPSS need of the Azerbaijani population and contribute to their capacity building, strengthening project outcomes, including overall well-being, recovery, and resilience of individuals and communities affected by humanitarian crises.

During the training, participants learned basic knowledge about mental health and psychosocial support needs, and ways to conduct effective quality outreach in their communities. They also acquired practical skills in basic psychosocial support techniques such as psychological first aid. In addition, the training highlighted the importance of mapping existing services to identify available resources and build partnerships to ensure better coordination of MHPSS work. Participants were taught self-care strategies to be able to take care of their own well-being while supporting others. The MHPSS focal points will be able to use the new knowledge and skills to provide good quality MHPSS services.