UNESCO, Japan, and MEHE Launch the Mental Health and Psychosocial

The UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and the Embassy of Japan, launched the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Program from the Green Demonstration Room at the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) in Jounieh. 

The multi-faceted program is designed to support students and teachers affected by multiple crises, addressing the urgent need to ensure a safe learning environment by promoting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, fostering resilience, and ensuring the continuity of learning in Lebanese schools even at the most difficult times.

The initiative will reach 10,000 students across 50 public schools, providing tailored psychosocial support to strengthen both learning continuity and emotional recovery. UNESCO is supporting CERD to develop and adapt age-appropriate materials for primary school students and train teachers to integrate psychosocial support into their daily teaching. This approach equips educators with the tools to support learners affected by trauma while also reinforcing their own well-being, thereby fostering a learning-enabled school environment.

The program also introduces innovative approaches to healing and social cohesion. Through orchestral workshops and performances with Beirut Chants El-Sistema, students, particularly those from crisis-affected, marginalized and low-income communities, are offered meaningful opportunities for self-expression, creative engagement, and collective resilience building. 

In parallel, hands-on environmental activities at the National Green Demonstration Room provide interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect art, music, science, and sustainability. Supporting youth engage in team sports is also central to this multi-faceted program, recognizing  where healthy bodies foster healthy minds and promote social cohesion. These experiences enhance students’ mental health and nurture a sense of connection to their communities and environment, offering tangible pathways for recovery, personal growth, and empowerment.

In this context, the launch of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme highlights the commitment of all partners to ensuring quality education and well-being for students and teachers in Lebanon.