Home / News

News

“Sanad”...a project that aims to raise community awareness of mental health

“Sanad”...a project that aims to raise community awareness of mental health

22 young women and men participated in a training program to build their capacities in mental health advocacy

 

Alaa, a young Palestinian woman from Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. Through the women’s association “Not to Forget”, which is active in the camp and aims to alleviate the psychological, educational, and social suffering of refugee women and children, Alaa joined the “Sanad” project for community awareness of mental health, which is implemented by the YWCA of Palestine,  in partnership with the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) and funded by the Belgian Government.

Alaa participated in a training program within the project aimed at empowering young women and men, building their capacities in the field of alliance and advocacy for mental health and community participation, and building and planning community awareness campaigns on the issue of mental health, to contribute to societal change and break the stigma associated with mental health illness.

In light of the current circumstances in Palestine, the need to stimulate psychological support-seeking behavior among young people is increasing, based on the importance of mental health.

Alaa says that the training was very enjoyable and useful, and through it she gained new information and was able to transfer knowledge and information more clearly and accurately to her peers.

"I learned how to break barriers correctly and clearly, how to deal with cases that need psychological support, in addition to how to communicate with my association and other centers in the surrounding community, and the mechanism for planning joint campaigns to raise awareness of mental health." She added.

Twenty-two young women and men from the project’s target localities in the West Bank participated in the training program: Tammoun Town, south of Tubas; Dura Town, south of Hebron; the Jahalin Arab community, southeast of Jerusalem; the Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah; the Jenin refugee camp in Jenin; and Al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah.

Amira (25 years old), from the “Social and Psychology Development Association” in Jalazoun Refugee Camp, says that she benefited from the training on both personal and social levels, and it had a positive impact on her ideas and interactions with herself and the others in her life.

I learned new things from the stories that my colleagues shared during the training days.” She stated.

The “Sanad” project aims to increase Palestinian youth’s awareness of the importance of mental health and strategies for seeking help within their communities, reduce the stigma associated with mental health illness, enhance cooperation and coordination between relevant stakeholders, including institutions working in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, the Ministry of Health, and partner grassroots institutions, and positively influence decision-makers to encourage appropriate responses to youth needs in the field of mental health and psychosocial support.

The project consists of various activities and training, meetings and dialogue sessions, an awareness campaign, and motivational initiatives and events.


Share :