Medrar Social Awareness Program

Program Overview and Analysis

The “Mental Health Matters” program was developed after observing a steady rise in emotional fatigue, anxiety, and depression among vulnerable families and youth, especially in regions affected by displacement, unemployment, and insecurity.

A preliminary assessment conducted through field surveys and focus groups revealed three critical insights:

Stigma and misunderstanding: Many participants perceived mental health as a taboo subject or associated it with severe illness, not recognizing common symptoms like chronic stress or burnout.

Lack of accessible support: Few affordable counseling or community-based mental health services were available in rural and underprivileged areas.

Absence of preventive knowledge: Most individuals lacked practical coping strategies for daily stress, emotional regulation, and family communication.

Practical Solutions and Implementation Methods

To tackle these findings, Medrar and LAU adopted a participatory and educational approach focused on empowerment and early prevention:

Awareness and Education Sessions:
Facilitators and psychology students from LAU conducted interactive workshops in schools, community centers, and municipalities. Sessions included basic mental health literacy, recognizing early warning signs, and distinguishing between normal stress and more serious conditions requiring professional help.

Stress Management Techniques:
Participants learned practical, no-cost methods such as deep breathing, journaling, short meditation, and mindful exercises tailored to Lebanese daily life. Emphasis was placed on routines that could be easily integrated into households with limited time or resources.

Parent–Child Communication Workshops:
Special focus groups for parents introduced simple communication tools to help them identify behavioral changes in children and respond with empathy instead of punishment or neglect.

Peer Support and Referral Network:
The program created small peer circles where youth and adults could share experiences confidentially, moderated by trained volunteers. A list of nearby mental health professionals, NGOs, and hotlines (e.g., Embrace Lifeline 1564) was distributed to ensure continued access to help.

Visual and Digital Awareness Tools:
To reach a wider audience, LAU students designed infographics, short educational videos, and social media content summarizing tips like “5 Ways to Protect Your Mind Daily” and “How to Support a Friend in Distress.”

Monitoring and Evaluation:
Participants completed pre- and post-program surveys assessing changes in awareness, comfort level discussing mental health, and adoption of coping techniques. Results showed a significant improvement in understanding and reduced stigma.

Impact and Future Expansion

The program reached hundreds of participants in both urban and rural areas, helping normalize mental health discussions and fostering a culture of emotional openness and community care. Participants reported feeling more capable of identifying signs of stress and supporting family members in need.

Encouraged by the success of this pilot phase, Medrar Foundation plans to integrate “Mental Health Matters” into its Mobile Clinic outreach and community centers, ensuring that mental well-being becomes a central part of holistic humanitarian aid. Future steps include partnerships with mental health NGOs, training for volunteers in psychological first aid, and establishing ongoing peer-support networks.