The MHCE is a week long intensive basic module that focuses on the specific contexts of conflict, post-conflict and disaster settings. This part of the course will provide a practical orientation to a variety of topics, including introducing the Inter-Agency Guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings how to conduct rapid assessments, designing and setting up mental health services or psychosocial programmes (exploring the differences between them), clinical work and therapeutic approaches in non-western contexts, dealing with sexual and gender based violence, the issues of cultural validity and human rights, taking care of oneself and dealing with burnout. It will also introduce potential field workers to essentials such as personal security, and practical aspects of humanitarian work in the field.  

Topics covered in the MHCE curriculum include (1) setting up mental health and psychosocial programs in emergencies, (2) understanding the emergency context and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support, (3) psychosocial considerations involving education, community support, and child protection, (4) understanding the clinical issues of grief, loss, trauma, substance abuse, severe mental disorders, maternal depression, and early child development, (5) setting up clinical programmes in emergency settings using case examples from the field, (6) needs assessments, (7) monitoring and evaluation, (8) sexual and gender based violence, (9) therapeutic work in a relief context, (10) taking care of ourselves, (11) critically examining humanitarianism, and (12) security. Workshops will develop research and training skills while building upon interpersonal therapy in low resource settings.