Integrated Mental Health
& Psychosocial Support Program
Healing Minds. Supporting Recovery.
United for Dignity Alliance’s Integrated Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Program embeds culturally responsive, trauma‑informed mental health care directly into trusted, life‑saving services already reaching thousands of Gazans. This approach improves health outcomes, restores dignity, and builds long‑term community resilience—led by Gazans, for Gazans.
Why Mental Health Matters in Gaza
In the Gaza Strip, prolonged conflict, displacement, and loss have created a mental health emergency alongside a medical and humanitarian crisis. Psychological distress is widespread, deeply interconnected with physical health outcomes, and often left untreated due to stigma, lack of services, and system collapse.
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TSD affects 54% of children and 40% of adults
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485,000 people are estimated to be living with mental health disorders
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Nearly all 1.2 million children require mental health and psychosocial support
Untreated psychological distress undermines recovery from illness, pregnancy, injury, and disability. It disrupts learning, weakens families, and deepens long‑term dependence on humanitarian aid. Integrated mental health care is not optional—it is essential.
The Program
Community-Based Psychosocial Support & Psychoeducation
Accessible group and individual support helps normalize emotional responses to crisis, strengthen coping skills, and reduce stigma through culturally grounded psychoeducation.
Tiered Mental Health Care
UFDA delivers a stepped-care mental health model that meets people where they are, providing the right level of support at the right time while ensuring continuity across services.
Psychological First Aid (PFA)
Frontline staff provide immediate, humane, and practical support to individuals experiencing acute distress, prioritizing safety, stabilization, and connection to ongoing care.
Task-Shifted Counseling & Non-Clinical Support
Trained paraprofessionals deliver evidence-based, non-specialized psychosocial interventions, expanding reach while maintaining quality and cultural relevance.
Psychiatric Consultation & Pharmacotherapy
When clinically indicated, trained local prescribers offer medication management supported by specialist consultation and supervision.
Focused Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
Qualified mental health professionals provide structured therapeutic interventions for individuals requiring intermediate-level clinical care.
Safe Referral Pathways for Higher-Level Care
Clear, confidential referral systems ensure individuals with complex or severe needs can access specialized mental health services safely and appropriately.
Expected Impact
In The First Two Years
