GCMHP Concludes Training Course on ‘Concepts and Skills in Child Mental Health’

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme has finalized on Thursday, March 24, 2022 a training course on the “Concepts and Skills in Child Mental Health”. The training targeted  22 counselors, teachers, area supervisors and school principles.

This course aimed to provide participants with knowledge and skills about: the most common mental disorders among children and adolescents, case management and referral mechanisms, the mental health indications of children's drawings.

The closing session of the training was attended by Mr Qusai Abuodeh, Director of External Relations and Resources Development; and Dr Muhammad Al-Zeer, Head of the Academic Programmes Unit; Mrs Aisha El-Bassiouni, Head of the Projects Unit; Mr Hassan Al-Shaer, Project Coordinator. The session was also attended by Mr Anwar Ahmed, Head of the Educational Counselling Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; and Mrs A. Abeer Al-Shurfa, Head of the Mental Health Department.

Addressing the attendees, Dr Al-Zeer welcomed emphasized the extended strategic relationship between the Ministry of Education and the GCMHP. He also thanked the Ministry of Education for their “fruitful cooperation which has given success to the training”.

On his part, Mr Ahmed confirmed that the Ministry’s partnership with GCMHP dated back to many years, explaining the value which the counselling unit projects have added to the educational process.

He also said thank you to GCMHP for developing school counselling units.

Representing GCMHP administration, Mr Abuodeh thanked the participants and praised their commitment and their cooperation, explaining how their effort would be reflected on improving the mental health of children and their educational progress.

The trainees also expressed their satisfaction with the training, explaining how it added to them an excellent experience. They also expressed their gratitude for the trainers and all those who had different roles in facilitating the training in the program.

The activities of this course started from 21 to 24 of March 2022, with a total of 20 training hours.

The course was provided by Dr Behzad Akhras, Psychiatrist; Mr Muhammad Abu Shukair, MH specialist; Ms Manal Al-Harbawi, MH specialist; and MrOsama Farina, MH specialist. 

The course came within Project ‘Psychological Support for the most vulnerable children in the Gaza Strip’, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and in partnership with the Italian Gazzella Onlus Foundation. It is funded by the Otto per Mille of the Waldensian Church of Italy.