UNICEF Oman trains 60 health professionals and counsellors in remote provision of mental health care to children and parents

MUSCAT, 4 May 2021 – UNICEF, in partnership with the ministries of development, education and health in the Sultanate of Oman, is providing training to 60 school counsellors, social workers and nurses to improve the provision of remote mental health and psychological support services (MHPSS) to children, adolescents and their parents across the nation.

Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. And while the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not urgently taken.  

At the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Oman’s Ministry of Health quickly established a toll-free national mental health hotline, with the aim of making mental health support easily accessible to all.  The ministry developed a training programme for psychologists and social workers on the provision of remote support to adults, and approached UNICEF to develop a training package tailored towards children, adolescents and their parents.  

“The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis – and young people and their parents are particularly vulnerable,” said UNICEF Oman Representative Lana Al Wreikat. “Good mental health must be front and centre of every country’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to support the Government of Oman in achieving this.”    

“This is a vital programme that has come at critical juncture in the COVID-19 outbreak,” said  Dr Nasser bin Suleiman bin Muhammad al-Salmani, director of the School and University Health Department at the Ministry of Health. “This has been a wonderful opportunity for school nurses  providing mental health and psychological support services to improve their skills in prevention, early detection, evaluation, intervention and referral of cases.”  

The first training session was held on 23 March 2020. During the 3-month course, the 60 counsellors, social workers, nurses and other service providers from the ministries of education, health and social development will complete 69 hours of online training which has both theoretical and practical components. The training takes a “child centred” approach meaning that content is aligned with key child development milestones and child-friendly approaches. 

The training includes modules on stress management, tele/online psychosocial support to children and adults, online counselling, and case management. 

The early detection of mental health issues is vital in ensuring that children and parents get the care they need as quickly as possible, minimizing the prospect that additional complications may emerge and along with the need for referral for specialized mental health services. Practitioners at the ministries of health, education and social development work closely at national and local levels to ensure the comprehensive and cohesive provision of MHPSS services.   

Supporting the Government of Oman to improve children’s access to mental health services is one of UNICEF Oman’s priority areas of work in 2021. UNICEF is also supporting improved access to education, health and protection services, and improved access to opportunities so that all children can realise their full potential.