GCMHP Participates in International Conference on Digital Mental Health in MENA

The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) took part in the international conference titled “Digital Mental Health in West Asia and North Africa: What Works? What’s Next?” held in Cairo and on line on July 15–16, 2025. The event was organized by Germany’s Zentrum UEBERLEBEN’s Ilajnafsy Program and brought together over 150 representatives from local, regional, and international mental health and psychosocial support organizations.

On the first day, discussions focused on knowledge exchange and networking in digital mental health services, covering topics such as the effectiveness of online interventions for PTSD and depression, virtual reality therapy, digital psychosocial support tools for children, and the role of AI in online mental health. The second day addressed staff care in online environments, including supervision, employee wellbeing, safety of digital mental health services, and experiences from Gaza during emergencies.

GCMHP actively contributed with a dedicated session titled “Supervision in Emergency Situations – Insights from Gaza”, presented by Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei, Director General of GCMHP, highlighting the programme’s mental health services, ongoing crisis response, and staff support initiatives. Ms. Rawya Hammam, Director of Training and Research, presented on the importance of professional supervision and caregiver support during the crisis, while several GCMHP specialists shared practical experiences and lessons learned in both in-person and remote supervision.

Key challenges identified included internet disruptions, limited access to session sites, ongoing displacement, and reduced non-verbal communication in remote supervision. Recommendations emphasized the urgent need to end the war on Gaza to ensure safe environments, culturally sensitive use of digital tools, continuous supervision training, qualified and context-aware supervisors, and the presence of intermediary support between supervisors and staff.

Dr. Abu Jamei also participated as a keynote speaker in the closing panel “What Works, What’s Next?” alongside experts from Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, moderated by Dr. Maya Baum of Zentrum UEBERLEBEN. The session underscored the importance of digital mental health services in the MENA region and the need for sustained investment and capacity building in this field.