Beirut – The UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and the Embassy of Japan, launched the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Program from the Green Demonstration Room at the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) in Jounieh.
The multi-faceted program is designed to support students and teachers affected by multiple crises, addressing the urgent need to ensure a safe learning environment by promoting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, fostering resilience, and ensuring the continuity of learning in Lebanese schools even at the most difficult times.
The initiative will reach 10,000 students across 50 public schools, providing tailored psychosocial support to strengthen both learning continuity and emotional recovery. UNESCO is supporting CERD to develop and adapt age-appropriate materials for primary school students and train teachers to integrate psychosocial support into their daily teaching. This approach equips educators with the tools to support learners affected by trauma while also reinforcing their own well-being, thereby fostering a learning-enabled school environment.
The program also introduces innovative approaches to healing and social cohesion. Through orchestral workshops and performances with Beirut Chants El-Sistema, students, particularly those from crisis-affected, marginalized and low-income communities, are offered meaningful opportunities for self-expression, creative engagement, and collective resilience building.
In parallel, hands-on environmental activities at the National Green Demonstration Room provide interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect art, music, science, and sustainability. Supporting youth engage in team sports is also central to this multi-faceted program, recognizing where healthy bodies foster healthy minds and promote social cohesion. These experiences enhance students’ mental health and nurture a sense of connection to their communities and environment, offering tangible pathways for recovery, personal growth, and empowerment.
In this context, the launch of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme highlights the commitment of all partners to ensuring quality education and well-being for students and teachers in Lebanon.
H.E. Dr. Rima Karmi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative:
“The launch of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme, funded by Japan through UNESCO, reflects the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Vision 2030: quality education requires a holistic approach that integrates both learning and well-being. Schools are not merely spaces for instruction, but places that nurture confident, well-rounded individuals who think critically and embody the values of participation and solidarity.”
Echoing this commitment, Maysoun Chehab, Officer in Charge of UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, noted:
“Under the UNESCO Action Plan for Emergency Response in Lebanon, supporting students’ and teachers’ well-being is key to ensuring learning continuity and inclusive, quality education — even in times of crisis.”
Reinforcing the importance of education as a lifeline, H.E. Mr. MAGOSHI Masayuki, Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon, added:
“Education is more than a right — it is a lifeline. It restores dignity, builds peace, and gives every young person the power to stand tall, even when the world feels uncertain beneath their feet.”
This program exemplifies the strong collaboration between UNESCO, MEHE, and the Government of Japan to strengthen the Lebanese education system and safeguard the well-being of students and teachers. By fostering resilience, psychosocial support, and innovative learning approaches, the initiative reaffirms a long-term commitment to ensuring that every child and educator in Lebanon can learn, heal, and thrive.