Implemented by Medair
March 2025 – December 2025
Lebanon is facing a deepening crisis that is taking a significant toll on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of its population. Since October 2023, the country has been directly affected by the escalation of conflict in the region, particularly through repeated attacks along its Southern border in the context of the war in Gaza. Communities are living under constant fear and uncertainty. In this context, children and adolescents are especially vulnerable, as the accumulation of chronic stress, exposure to violence, and limited access to support services severely impacts their emotional and psychological development.
In response to these challenges, the Peace of Mind Foundation partnered with Medair to implement a community-based MHPSS project throughout 2025. The initiative aimed to strengthen resilience and improve well-being among vulnerable Lebanese children and Syrian refugees by expanding access to early psychosocial support and fostering supportive community environments.
At the core of the initiative was the belief that adolescents themselves can play a powerful role in supporting one another. The program began by training community volunteers in Psychological First Aid, equipping them with tools to provide immediate emotional support and recognize signs of distress. These volunteers, many of whom were youth themselves, were then empowered to act as peer supporters, creating safe and empathetic spaces for dialogue, connection, and healing within their communities. In parallel, awareness sessions were held with adolescents and their caregivers to encourage participation, reduce stigma, and build a better understanding of mental health, using interactive activities and age-appropriate language to ensure relevance and engagement.
Peer support groups were facilitated using the “Touch Base” curriculum, a nine-session program adapted to the Lebanese context that addressed themes such as identity, community belonging, and emotional regulation. The sessions included opportunities for artistic expression as a way for participants to process and communicate difficult emotions non-verbally. A key component of the curriculum also involved strengthening communication between adolescents and their caregivers, promoting more supportive home environments.
In addition to these sessions, the project incorporated inclusive recreational activities across different community spaces, bringing together children from diverse backgrounds through storytelling, structured play, and creative arts. These activities were not only therapeutic but also fostered positive social interactions, strengthened life skills like teamwork and problem-solving, and promoted a sense of normalcy and hope amid ongoing instability.
Through this initiative, Peace of Mind Foundation and Medair have helped create safer, more supportive environments where young people can process their experiences, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of hope for the future.