Creation of a mental health and psychosocial support community network in the north of Aleppo – Síria

In northern Syria, in the Aleppo province, the internally displaced population fleeing the armed conflict, as well as the population hosting them, faces a major life challenge, where the violent civil war raging in the country became a worrying routine. The population that remains is now mostly comprised of the most vulnerable, those who have never had the financial capacity to leave or those with limited mobility. They have not been able to flee the country and crossing a border that guarantees them, at least, the protection from an ongoing war.

Given the continuity of the conflict with no resolution in sight, the need for mental health care and psychosocial support becomes an increasingly urgent reality. To this end, in this region, the services are already available with equipment and qualified technical personnel. However, the population does not access them because of lack of knowledge or strong stigma associated with Mental Health.

In this way, the intervention proposes to break down barriers and take the lead in establishing a network of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), where the stigmas are deconstructed, the population becomes informed and able to exercise their right to access MHPSS services according to their needs.

To this end, the project will provide a strong information and awareness-raising component to the population of approximately 4,000 people, as well as the training and mobilization of 60 volunteers for Focal Points for Detection and Referral of cases in urgent need of specialized health care in this area. The project has a duration of 12 months and has a budget of € 45,113, of which AMI funds € 30,000. The action is the result of a partnership between AMI and the NGO Syria Relief & Development (SRD).