Un Ponte Per has been working on the Syrian-Iraqi border since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, welcoming and guiding people fleeing the conflict, distributing basic necessities, and then structuring its intervention into a multi-yearMental Health Psyco-Social Support Programme aimed at Syrian refugees in refugee camps in the Erbil and Dohuk areas since the end of 2012.
With a team of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, and in close cooperation with the regional government's Department of Mental Health, we work on post-traumatic stress management through individual sessions, group sessions, play therapy for children, and resilience groups. Resilience' is in fact the ability of individuals and communities to react to the violence they have suffered, trying to prevent the onset of severe traumatic symptoms.
As of 2019, activities focused on refugee camps in Erbil Governorate with the aim of improving the mental health conditions and psychosocial vulnerability of Syrian refugees in the area and training the staff of the Directorate of Health (DoH).
During 2021, the UNHCR-funded project Strengthening the provision of MHPSS assistance to Syrian Refugees in the Erbil Governorate aimed to improve the mental health and psychosocial vulnerability of refugees by continuing to strengthen services offered in urban areas to refugees of all nationalities. During the 12 months, 1,950 people accessed psychiatric support sessions, including free distribution of medication; 1,602 people accessed psychosocial support sessions including family support sessions; 11,132 people were involved in support groups, psycho-education, psychosocial activities; 5,381 people participated in workshops and were visited house to house by community workers.
The training component of the project included trainings for school teachers in the camps, trained in children's emotional learning and adaptive learning environments, community volunteers, trained in problem management counselling techniques, and officials from the Directorate of Health on topics related to the handover of clinical services.
