SDG 3.3.5: Provide students and staff with access to free mental health support

Good health about the body as well as about the mind is essential to us. Staying in good health is important to all of us, and can become particularly important in the future.

Lebanon has consistently improved its health system and registered relatively favourable indicators, despite internal challenges and external shocks. The ministry of public health has developed and implemented plans, aimed at reaching the sustainable development goals, which build on past successes. Lebanon is controlling and preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring universal access to healthcare services. The quality and coverage of health services have been improving. The ministry of public health has a network of 213 primary healthcare centers across the country, which provide services in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and municipalities, patients can see medical specialists at a reduced cost and receive basic and chronic disease medication and vaccines free Critical diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and others are fully covered by the ministry of public health. The strategy’s central goal for the ministry of public health is universal health coverage and it is based on the principle of ‘health as the right of each citizen’. Its strategic goals are:

  1. to modernize and strengthen MoPH’s executive and related administrations.
  2. to improve collective public health through prevention and promotion throughout the lifecycle of each individual, and in all stages/phases of life.
  3. to make concrete steps towards universal coverage of high quality, safe and affordable healthcare that priorities the poor and vulnerable.
  4. to strengthen capacity and systems for timely, accurate and reliable epidemiological surveillance intelligence for public health security and emergency preparedness and response.

ref: LEBANON-Voluntary National Review(VNR) on sustainable development goals (SDGs

Special care must be taken by all the active bodies to ensure good health. Among the noble goals that the Islamic university of Lebanon (IUL) aspired to was the improvement of health and wellbeing outcomes. To achieve this vision, IUL set out many collaborative plans to establish its position within the framework of health community service. Namely, the mission was carried by the applied departments in the Faculty of Health including nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy and medical laboratory. In specific, nursing department aims to graduate qualified health professionals with scientific competencies and high work skills, to meet the needs of the labor market in Lebanon and the world.

3.3 Health Impact
In this part of the goal, the actions that the Islamic Lebanese University carries out to improve local and global health and well-being of both the academic community and Lebanon will be shown.

3.3.5 Does your university as a body provide students and staff with access to free mental health support?

Provide staff and students free mental services(Academic supervisor and psychological counselling, Training courses, awareness sessions, lectures)

Virtual Lecture titled: Emotional Pressure Management Skills in the scope of E-learning.

Mental health support, SDG 17 report.

University students often experience high levels of stress. Any number of potential events, academic failure, the loss of loved one, job termination of close relatives, and so on- may require students to make adjustments in the patterns of their daily living. Not all life transitions are negative, but even positive events, when accompanied by significant changes and demands, have the potential to be distressing. Many students weather the “stormy periods” of their lives without professional assistance; others may find that the distress of being a student provides an occasion to consult a mental health professional. Thus, the faculty of health seeking help with different students concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, family issues and academic difficulties. Faculty and Staff, play an important role in detecting and helping distressed students.

However, identifying and responding to students in distress is not an easy job; it can be confusing and overwhelming.

Mental Health Services insured by free psychologist consultation who is a member in the faculty of Health & Nursing Sciences and she deals with the different suspected cases:

  • Academic pressure or failure
  • Conflict with classmates/Professors
  • Difficulty adjusting to university life
  • Trouble adjusting to different culture
  • Career indecision
  • Athletes (pressure/ expectations)
  • Eating disorders
  • Drug/alcohol abuse
  • Sexual or physical problems
  • Identity/sexual confusion
  • Family problems
  • Grief and loss
  • Depression 15
  • Anxiety
  • Loneliness
  • Relationship problems/break-ups
  • Low self-esteem
  • Financial problem

Mental health program MoPH.

The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) was launched in May 2014 within the Ministry of Public Health with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and International Medical Corps (IMC), with the aim of reforming mental health care in Lebanon and providing services beyond medical treatment at the community level, in line with Human Rights and the latest evidence for best practices.

NMHP Vision: All people living in Lebanon will have the opportunity to enjoy the best possible mental health and well-being.  

Working towards this vision, the NMHP has launched in May 2015, after a process involving all key stakeholders in the country, a Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Promotion, and Treatment Strategy for Lebanon for the period of 2015-2020. 

Mission: to ensure the development of a sustainable mental health system that guarantees the provision and universal accessibility of high quality mental health curative and preventive services through a cost-effective, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach, with an emphasis on community involvement, continuum of care, human rights, and cultural relevance. 

The implementation of this Strategy is successfully ongoing since its launching.

The NMHP has also coordinated the development of the “Inter-ministerial Substance Use Response Strategy for Lebanon 2016-2021” launched jointly in December 2016 by the ministries of Public Health, Social Affairs, Interior and Municipalities, Justice and Education. The implementation of this Strategy has been initiated.

Laws and Regulations

Type

Signature

Number

Date

Topic

Document

Decision

Minister of Public Health

271/1

25/02/2019

Related to the Assessment of the Health Status of Patients Transferred from Al-Fanar Hospital

Decision Number 271/1: Related to the Assessment of the Health Status of Patients Transferred from Al-Fanar Hospital

Decision

Minister of Public Health

270/1

25/02/2019

Related to the Quality of Care and Human Rights in the Field of Mental Health 

Decision Number 270/1: Related to the Quality of Care of Human Rights in the Field of Mental Health

Circular 

Director General

60

20/06/2018

Related to the rational prescription of medication for priority mental and neurological conditions for specialists in the public health system

Circular Number 60: Related to the rational prescription of medication for priority mental and neurological conditions for specialists in the public health system

Circular 

Director General

112

27/11/2018

Related to limiting the practice of the profession of psychologist in healthcare and educational institutions exclusively to professionals who have the license to practice from the Ministry of Public Health

Circular Number 112: Related to limiting the practice of the profession of psychologist in healthcare and educational institutions exclusively to professionals who have the license to practice from the Ministry of Public Health

Circular 

Director General

113

22/11/2018

Related to the mandatory licensing for the practice of the profession of Psychologist (clinical and educational)

Circular number 113: related to the mandatory licensing for the practice of the profession of Psychologist (clinical and educational)

Decision

Minister of Public Health

1155

19-06-2018

Decision related to the National Mental Health Programme

Decision number 1155: related to the National Mental Health Programme

Circular

Director General

22

09-03-2018

Regulation of studies and research in the field of mental health and psychosocial support

Circular number 22: related to the regulation of studies and research in the field of mental health and psychosocial support

Annexe

 

1320/1

02-2018

Guidelines issued by the National Mental Health Program in the Ministry of Public Health regarding the necessary procedures and documents needed to obtain a license to practice clinical and non-clinical (educational) psychology profession.

Guidelines issued by the National Mental Health Program in the Ministry of Public Health regarding the necessary procedures and documents needed to obtain a license to practice clinical and non-clinical (educational) psychology profession.

Circular

Director General

48

12-06-2017

Regulation of research in the field of mental health

Circular number 48: Related to the regulation of research in the field of mental health

Circular

Director General

64

12-06-2017

Projects related to MHPSS and substance use in Lebanon

Circular number 64: Projects related to MHPSS and substance use in Lebanon

Circular

Director General

46

22-03-2016

Request to hospitals to not report on overdose

Circular number 46: related to the request to hospitals to not report on overdose

 

Practical Guide for Media Professionals on the Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use

The National Mental Health Programme in the Ministry of Public Health with the support of the World Health Organization developed a Practical Guide for Media Professionals on the Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use. The guide is designed to be used by journalists, news reporters, anchors, television shows hosts, social media bloggers, script writers and other media professionals. It is contextualized and culturally adapted to the media scene in Lebanon so as to answer questions related to mental health and substance use. The guide helps media professionals produce successful media outputs on mental health and substance use. It was prepared based on findings from interviews with media professionals which aimed to explore their needs and the challenges they face when addressing mental health and substance use topics.

 

Practical Guide for Media Professionals on the Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use

Accreditation standards for residential substance use rehabilitation programmes – 2019

The aim of these Accreditation Standards is to improve the quality of care and to ensure the protection of Human Rights for persons in Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation facilities in Lebanon. They have been developed in line with strategic objective 2.3.2 of the “Inter-ministerial Substance Use Response Strategy for Lebanon 2016-2021”, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and reviewed by local and international experts in the field.

 

Accreditation standards for residential substance use rehabilitation programmes -Lebanon 2019

Guide for the rational prescription of medications for priority mental and neurological conditions for specialists in the public health system

The “Guide for the rational prescription of medications for priority mental and neurological conditions for specialists in the public health system” constitutes a reference document for evidence-based and culturally appropriate decision-making for pharmacological treatment of priority mental and neurological conditions. This guide is based on the “National List of Psychotropic and Neurological Medications for Humanitarian Response, v2.0” which was developed to harmonize the procurement and provision of medications amongst all actors. In addition, a separate list of medical tests needed to monitor the side effects of these medications (as per the guide) is available in English and French.

In line with the continuum of care, this guide advocates for the rational medication prescription based on the national list and highlights the importance of the psychosocial component in the treatment of mental and neurological conditions as part of the holistic person-centred care.

This guide was made possible through the fruitful collaboration between the MOPH and the World Health Organization. The process of development encompassed two rounds of technical review from experts at local and international levels.

The guide is available in English and French.

 

Psychotropic Medication guide- English

Guide des medicaments Psychotropes- Francais

 

Recruitment criteria for professionals working in mental health in humanitarian settings

As part of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Task Force (MHPSS TF) action plan set every year to address challenges faced in MHPSS work, recruitment criteria for mental health professionals working in the humanitarian field were developed with the aim of ensuring that professionals with the minimum needed qualifications are employed.

These criteria are recommended to use by all organizations operating in this field in Lebanon

 

The faculty of arts and humanities, especially the department of psychology, invites you to attend a seminar entitled
CHALLENGES STUDENTS FACED THIS YEAR: BETWEEN REALITY AND EXPECTATIONS

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, especially the Department of Psychology, invites you to attend a seminar entitled: Challenges faced by students during this year: between reality and expectations on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Beirut time via zoom app. The invitation is addressed to students and professors.

 

The National Mental Health Programme

The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) was launched in May 2014 within the Ministry of Public Health with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and International Medical Corps (IMC), with the aim of reforming mental health care in Lebanon and providing services beyond medical treatment at the community level, in line with Human Rights and the latest evidence for best practices. 

 NMHP Vision: All people living in Lebanon will have the opportunity to enjoy the best possible mental health and well-being.   

  Working towards this vision, the NMHP has launched in May 2015, after a process involving all key stakeholders in the country, a Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Promotion, and Treatment Strategy for Lebanon for the period of 2015-2020.  

 Mission: to ensure the development of a sustainable mental health system that guarantees the provision and universal accessibility of high quality mental health curative and preventive services through a cost-effective, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach, with an emphasis on community involvement, continuum of care, human rights, and cultural relevance.  

 The implementation of this Strategy is successfully ongoing since its launching. 

 The NMHP has also coordinated the development of the “Inter-ministerial Substance Use Response Strategy for Lebanon 2016-2021” launched jointly in December 2016 by the ministries of Public Health, Social Affairs, Interior and Municipalities, Justice and Education. The implementation of this Strategy has been initiated. 

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Indicators 

The Mental Health and Psycho Social (MHPSS) indicators are designed to monitor the accessibility to and quality of the available MHPSS services provided by MHPSS non-governmental and humanitarian actors. 
  
The main purposes of these indicators are: 
– To monitor the access of persons with mental disorders to doctors trained on Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP), psychologists and psychiatrists 
– To monitor the trend of mental health diagnosis 
– To follow-up on specific vulnerable groups and decrease risk of relapses and suicide 
– To empower the persons with mental disorders and their caregivers 
– To increase reporting of persons benefiting from psychosocial activities through reporting on some Child Protection (CP) indicators related to PSS activities 
 - To increase the number of staff trained on evidence based mental health interventions 
 - To increase the number of staff benefiting from staff care activities 

 

Al Zahraa Hospital

In its good practice guide for student and staff mental well-being in higher education, IUL by collaboration with Al-Zahraa Hospital Yearly organized a scientific day in World Mental Health Day for all staff and students about how to deal with conflict situations from the psychological point of view.  

 

Mental Health Service
IUL acknowledge some of the triggers of mental health problems that can affect students and staff significantly, Mental Health Services insured by free psychologist consultation whom is accredited from the Ministry of Public Health as mentioned in the National Mental Health Program 2014 that mental health is a core element in a primary health care for all.  

 

Al-Zahraa Hospital University Medical Center

الإنسان بالاكتئاب. 

يعتبر الاكتئاب أكثر من مجرد نوبة من الحالة المزاجية السيئة، ويمكن أن يؤدّي إلى مجموعة متنوعة من المشكلات العاطفية والجسدية وقد يتطلب علاجاً على المدى الطويل.  

www.zhumc.org.lb 

#مستشفى_الزهراء_مركز_طبي_جامعي 

#ZHUMC 

#Depression 

#الاكتئاب 

#Stay_Safe 

 

Brand Your Name

Physical Activity and mental health.

What are the best ways to stay mentally healthy during times of crises? And how physical activity can improve our mental health?

With great pleasure, we invite you to take part in our upcoming webinar as we discuss the physical and mental health status in lebanon. With the worst economic collapse in its history aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanon’s double crises continue to affect our physical and mental wellbeing.

Join our first speaker Dr. Randa El Barraj to talk more about the traumas we Lebanese people are facing and how to overcome them followed by the effect of physical activity on mental health with Dr. Hiba Hassouna.

It will be an insightful discussion taking place on Friday the 6th of August at 5pm. DON’T MISS OUT !

Please use the following link to enter the session:

https://zoom.us/j/3789302121