Students living in Gaza and studying at universities are facing several challenges stressors on daily basis either at their universities or at their homes/communities. In order to enhance the mental and emotional wellbeing of the program’s students the program has an anticipated output “Students with access to, and receiving, a variety of psycho-social support services”. Thus, to meet this anticipated output the program provides two types of psychosocial support as follow:
Psychosocial training:
Primary Psychosocial Support (training): The program provides this training for all 630 DFII students with the aim to maximize student’s potentials’, enhance coping strategies and prevent burnout during the student’s daily and academic life
Continuous Psychosocial Support/ counselling:
This support is given for selected students who are identified by psychosocial counselor as students who are in need for continuous psychosocial support based on evidence (eg. Sudden drop in the student’s GPA). This service is offered by psychosocial counselor and mental health professionals when needed.
After identification of students whom are in need for continuous psychosocial support, psychosocial counselor shall work with students in a professional manner who will work with students to enhance their psychosocial status.
In case students need more advanced psychosocial support referral to an advanced center can be an option. Psychosocial support can include mental health counseling, individual counselling, group support, and many other similar services based on the psychosocial counselor recommendations.
Continuous psychosocial counseling is services provided in full confidently and with a very private manner to promote and enhance student to seek this kind of support and not to be stigmatized. The psychosocial counselor shall not only provide support for students but also for their families if other needs were identified.
