Mental Health And Psychosocial Support

Job Summary

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring community- and facility-based mental health and psychosocial support services in refugee camps. The role focuses on improving access to quality, integrated, and culturally appropriate MHPSS services for refugees and host communities, with particular attention to vulnerable groups including women, children, adolescents, older persons, persons with disabilities, and survivors of violence.

The officer will collaborate closely with health facilities, community health workers, protection actors, government institutions, and humanitarian partners to strengthen mental health care, psychosocial well-being, and referral pathways in accordance with national guidelines, the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), and IASC MHPSS Guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and monitor integrated MHPSS services in line with project objectives, donor requirements, and WHO mhGAP guidelines.
• Provide technical support for the identification, assessment, management, and referral of individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs while ensuring compliance with national protocols and WHO standards.
• Deliver and strengthen community- and facility-based psychosocial interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), Problem Management Plus (PM+), psychoeducation, and individual, family, and group support.
• Build the capacity of healthcare workers, community health workers, refugee volunteers, and peer supporters through training, mentoring, and supportive supervision.
• Promote community awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen community-based psychosocial support and peer support networks.
• Coordinate MHPSS activities and referral pathways with health, protection, GBV, child protection, nutrition, education, and other humanitarian partners.
• Monitor program performance, maintain high-quality data, prepare technical and donor reports, and document lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure the availability and proper management of psychotropic medicines and MHPSS supplies.
• Ensure all MHPSS activities comply with safeguarding, child protection, GBV, confidentiality, PSEA, and ethical standards while applying a survivor-centered and rights-based approach.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychiatry Nursing, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
• Experience working in humanitarian emergencies, refugee settings, or conflict-affected areas is highly desirable.
• Experience implementing community-based MHPSS programs.
• Experience delivering or supporting WHO mhGAP implementation.