Psychiatrist

Since the war started in Syria, an influx of refugees to Lebanon is growing each day, and according to UNHCR 1033513 Syrian refugees are registered until May 2015. These refugees had been exposed to war trauma and live in precarious conditions that constitute important socio-economic stressors. Mental Health has always been an issue in crisis and furthermore in the current crisis in Lebanon where the global health system is highly privatized. Lebanon has a predominantly private health care system, which relies heavily on the private sector and NGOs to provide mental health services. The country ranks high in the Middle East based on the number of mental health professionals, with 60 psychiatrists and 100 clinical psychologists for every four million Lebanese, and 274 general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000. Although its mental health expertise is internationally renowned, like many countries in the Arab world Lebanon just recently have developed national policy plan on mental health (2015-2020), and is on very beginning of its long-term implementation at the ministerial level. Budget allocations from the health sector for mental health average is just 5% Lebanon public health is with shortfall of funds due to poor or limited allocation of resources by the donor community and Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon. It is estimated that the prevalence of mental health disorders in Lebanon is higher than in low-income and war-torn countries due to the routine displacement, war trauma, poverty, unemployment and substance abuse (25.8% according to a study published in 2008 by Elie Karam et al).  Mental health services in Lebanon at present are mainly institutions/institutionalization oriented for mental health disorders while efforts are made to be spread in community and primary health care level; there is lack of proper equipment and geographical coverage is limited for addressing all the needs of the country and particularly Syrian refugees. The entire burden of the mentally ill is left to the family and thus to the local communities, causing a cost to the whole society in terms of development and resources. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is launching its mental health pilot project in Lebanon in 2016 particularly within Health Assessment Program supported by UK Home Office  by deploying a psychiatrist and training of Panel Physicians and Migration Health Nurses and by identification of mental health impact of multiyear crisis will assist and support initial assessment, treatment with counselling and provision of psychotropic drugs to identified mental health affected refugees to be resettled in UK. The project will contribute to continuation of health assistance to identified beneficiaries with mental health problems ensuring the provision of routine mental health services to more than 200 mental health affected beneficiaries following departure from Lebanon and resettlement in UK.   Under the overall supervision of the Head of IOM Office in Lebanon and reporting directly to the Migration Health Officer, the incumbent will carry out the following duties and responsibilities:   Objective of the Assignment   The psychiatrist will contribute towards reliable and timely mental health assessments and related service provision of the Migration Health Assessment Center (MHAC) in Achrafieh, Beirut through routine consultations for the mental health conditions affected beneficiaries and through building capacities of IOM’s health service providers. In addition s/he will assist with mental health service provision to victims of trafficking and victims of sexual and gender based violence. Through the assignment, the psychiatrist will train at least 20 IOM Affiliated health service providers as Panel Physicians and Migration Health nurses in Lebanon and xx in the region. Essential functions   1.      Perform psychiatric evaluation, related to the immigration medical examination, upon request of the IOM Panel Physicians, for purposes of screening for mental health disorders. 2.      Provide detailed report of the psychiatric evaluation, with working diagnose, recommendation for treatment, detail the follow up needs upon resettlement and advice on transport needs. 3.      In close coordination with Chief Medical Officer, Chief Migration Health Nurse, UK VPR Program focal Program and regional Hub in Amman develop and pilot comprehensive Mental Health Assessment tools for assessment of status of beneficiaries to be resettled to UK through VPR programme. 4.      Follow up the psychiatric patients in the departure pipeline; suggest treatment plan changes including medication recommendations for patients who are not improving as expected. Identify and recommend the referral mechanism for additional specialty mental health care such as community-based mental health care and advice on treatment plans until patients are admitted in appropriate care. 5.      Provide consultative services to mental health clinic staff including review and evaluating treatment plans, provides medical information relevant to the development of the treatment plan. 6.      Oversee the overall operation of the MHAC when it comes to the mental health issues, such as counselling, care and treatment services, drug dispensaries and supply management. 7.      Supervise the data management and ensure privacy and confidentiality among service providers. 8.      Provide routine on job training sessions to qualified panel physicians and nurses operating in the mental health clinic inclusive development of SOPs 9.      Conduct psychosocial and mental health related training sessions at the mental health in clinics in MHAC Achrafieh and Jnah main Office Clinic as well as in the region, as requested. 10.   Liaise with Mental Health facilities where we work, and with the professionals in resettlement countries related to treatment of migrants assisted by IOM. 11.  Provide recommendations and suggestion to the development of mental health work plans, in accordance with the policies and legislations of the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. 12.  Medically escort psychiatric patients abroad, as may be required.