A 2-day training designed for the humanitarian environment. It has for purpose to increase self-awareness, also increase quality and cohesion in providing services to populations. It has already been provided to more than 500 humanitarians.

1. SYNOPSYS
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT
…FOR HUMANITARIANS
INCLUDING HEADQUARTERS & DONORS
This, before talking of any other kind of
Mental Health.
PRESENTED BY
MARIE PRISCA LAHSSEN

2. FIRST, THEIR FEEDBACKS…
“This training has done a brainstorming in our minds. I feel this needs to
be part of a package especially in humanitarian contexts in different
countries as it not only gives food for thoughts, but it also enables us to
hold on the ground in front of difficult situations.”
Fahad Zeshan, CDC, Action Against Hunger, Abuja Nigeria.
“This training has changed not only how I will supervise my team, but how I
will interrelate with others more positively. All Humanitarian HR and
management should be taking this training has a true opportunity to self-
empowerment and positive behaviour change.
Doctor Abdulkadir Abdulrauf Toyin, Deputy HOD Nutrition Abuja
“This training? For me, simply life changing.
Anobu Innocent Olyema, OFDA Program Area
Manager, Maiduguri, Nigeria
“I feel very lucky to be part of this training as I
don’t think I’ll ever have such training in the
future again. I have learned, I enjoyed the
activities, and this will help me dealing with
stress everyday.
Abba Grema Juba, Damaturu Nigeria
1. General context
• All the staffs attended to this training no matter the position or level in the hierarchy: it was very good to have this diversity because we could compare our point of view with
many different angles. As for me it was one of the key of this successful training.
• The way Mary behaves, the way she talks to people is straight and empathic: she does not use a political cant and there is no condescendence and I really appreciate that.
• She took care of everyone and everyone was on board and greatly participative.
2. Training session
• The way she presents the session is disrupting. I had the feeling she was jumping from the topic to another one, and I had no choice to trust her and it was like a trip when we
don’t know the destination. But quickly I got the links and the gear from a subject to another one, from one behavior to another one.
• The topics of the sessions: all of them are useful and appropriate. It was helpful because she put words many times on the risks we can feel as humanitarian workers but we can’t
name.
• Many study cases, interaction and debates so the training was not academic but dynamic
I would recommend this training to all humanitarian workers. She forces us to question ourselves on our own weaknesses and how to improve our behavior. At the end of the day, everyone keeps
something from this training because we are all involved in one or more subject she shared with us.”
Nancy FEVRE
Roving Finance Coordinator
“We shouldn’t even question the pertinence of this training. This is so needed and
perfectly designed for humanitarian actors, in each and every hierarchy up to the
donors’ level.
Gabriel Idoko, Head of Field Unit UNHCR Yobe, NIGERIA

3. 2 DAYS TRAINING – A WORLD OF CONNECTIONS
This training is about empowering individuals and organisations by defeating perceptions and bringing awareness on how we see the world, how we define oneself, how
we perceive our workplace, our colleagues in the specific of a humanitarian context. Mental Health is not about the others or projects, it is first and foremost about us.
Since “integrity” has now become one of the most common values among NGOS’s and UN agencies, are we really capable to understand how easy we break the rules we
otherwise preach? Is integrity applicable only in the absence of corruption? Actually, if we look at it closely, it means a whole world beside this. We also go there.
This training gears toward:
• making healthier and smarter choices;
• taking decisions with a better understanding of collateral damages at each operational level;
• decreasing individual and organisational stress factors;
• building trust in the work environment, so important to performance, productivity and well-being;
• Healthier relationships between colleagues and improved relationships with beneficiaries of services.
• DAY ONE
NUMBER OF SLIDES: 180
NUMBER OF PARTS: 4
NUMBER OF PARTICIPATIVE ACTIVITIES: 5
NUMBER OF VIDEO: 1

PART ONE: Connecting with…The road to noticeable discoveries
▪ THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW. NUMBER OF SLIDES: 42
The first part of this training is somewhat dedicated to a Ronald David Laing quote. He was a Scottish psychiatrist, humanist, who studied
and wrote extensively on mental illness, and more specifically, psychosis. But his findings contributed to change the face of psychiatry and
by extension, how we perceive ourselves. His most famous researches were influenced by existential philosophy, where its humanism has
defined the challenge of “Being” and by extension the challenge of “changing”.


4. PART TWO: Connecting with… The brain story before the brainstorm
▪ WHAT DO WE HAVE IN OUR HEAD! NUMBER OF SLIDES: 27
The wonders of our brain. We travel through amazing images and facts that shows new fascinating outcomes based on scientific researches
that can easily change how we define ourselves and the power we have on change. From stroke to neuroplasticity, a Canadian brain
researcher present in a very smooth and accessible manner, the results we can apply in our daily life.

PART THREE: Connecting with… The unthinkable “I” to the unthinkable “us”
▪ DO WE REALLY KNOW ONESELF AND OR MORE “THE OTHERS”? NUMBER OF SLIDES: 69
We tend to see ourselves as the point of reference of rectitude. In the humanitarian environment, we are keen in developing all kinds of
protocols for dignity giving a direction to the desired sense of morality we should stand by. But are we really sure where we are in terms of
our own destructive behaviours? Why integrity is so often challenged? When we talk about Mental Health of beneficiaries, did we really look
in where we are ourselves? And if we don’t look, then, what kind of legitimacy this is giving to our purpose?

PART FOUR: Connecting with… The “Mental Health Standards toolkit”
▪ CAN THINGS BE EASY JUST FOR ONCE? NUMBER OF SLIDES: 30
Finally, we can talk about Mental Health and have at hand, some wonderful tools that can change forever how we see Mental Health. A
toolkit that empowers us to engage literally into positive thinking with basic guidelines to transform this thinking into positive behaviours.
This toolkit is a true support for anyone, any manager, any decision-taking position who has the desire to gear into constructive actions,
sensitive to collateral damages of interactions.

5. • DAY TWO
NUMBER OF SLIDES: 159
NUMBER OF PARTS: 5
NUMBER OF PARTICIPATIVE ACTIVITIES: 5
NUMBER OF VIDEO: 1

PART ONE: Connecting with…My level of happiness at work
▪ UNDERSTANDING PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION NUMBER OF SLIDES: 28
How we live our work is interrelated to our perceptions and how we interact with others. How much our environment impacts our level of
professional satisfaction and positive / negative perceptions? We look in this part how we progressively get overwhelmed by the external
factors and let these factors influence our positioning.
PART TWO: Connecting with…Our stressful work environments
▪ UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND ITS IMPACTS. NUMBER OF SLIDES: 32
Burnout, depression, and other stress-related diagnoses are taking the lead among other physical illnesses in the humanitarian environment.
We work on what is the stress, the signs that tell us where we are and the consequences of not listening to them. We also look at how
individually and collectively we can implement solutions to ease the negative stress.
PART THREE: Connecting with…organisational dysfunctions
▪ WHEN THEY INFILTRATE OUR GOODWILL NUMBER OF SLIDES: 35

6. They take a crucial place in how we take decisions and how these decisions are put into actions. The organisational dysfunctions feed-in
the culture, affect the performance, the efficiency capacities but as importantly, the well-being of teams and the deployment of projects in
the field. This part also helps to turn a dysfunction into a strength.
PART FOUR: Connecting with…our vulnerability
▪ HOW MUCH ARE WE ACTORS OR ACCOMPLICE NUMBER OF SLIDES: 17
Vulnerability in the humanitarian world is very significant in many aspects. We approach vulnerability in different angles but very much
woven into the meaning of integrity. It is then, up to us to define how much we are actor or accomplice, one way or the other. If so, do we
endorse this role fully? And if we don’t do it, are there any meaningful consequences?
PART FIVE: Connecting with…the road toward positive endeavours
▪ ITS ONLY WHEN WE CAN FACE REALITY THAT WE CAN CHANGE IT NUMBER OF SLIDES: 28
A wrap-up of everything we have discussed and worked on during these 2 days. This section focuses on questions and tools to help
engage and reinforce positive attitude and the development of our potential as individual and as organisations with a true sense of
integrity, empowering our purpose with responsibility and humanism.

7. THE SATISFACTION REPORT
This training was presented to more than 500 humanitarians from 2017 to 2019. Each training was pre and post assessed. To give some figures about the satisfaction
level, here is a partial view of the results from 88 participants coming from various technical backgrounds, departments and hierarchy positions.
Please take note that:
1. The questions are the duplicate of the form. Please don’t mind the question numbers
2. All assessments were answered through ODK, a telephone application which was used in every training given.
• FIRST DAY OF TRAINING: THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT
3. THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
3A. The content changed my vision on mental health 40 39 6 1 2
Observations:
1. 89,77% of participants confirm have changed their vision on mental health;
2. 6,82% of participants think they have changed their view on mental health;
3. 3,41% said this training has not changed their view. We don’t know if it is because they already had the knowledge, or they don’t agree with the content of the training.
• Significantly, 96,59% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has changed their view on mental health, including the ones who think that this has changed their view.
3. THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
3B. The content raised awareness on good mental health 42 40 3 3
Observations:
1. 93,18% of participants consider with certitude that the training has raised awareness on good mental health after the 1st
day of training;
2. 3,41% of participants are sure or think the training has raised awareness on good mental health;
3. 3,41% said this training has not really raised awareness. Again, we don’t know if it is because they already had the knowledge or they think the training was not meeting their
expectations.

8. • Significantly, 96,59% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has raised awareness on good mental health including the ones who think that may change their level of
awareness.
3. THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
3C. The content will have an impact in how I see myself 46 29 11 2
Observations:
1. 52,27% of participants feel without any doubt that the training had a direct impact on how they view themselves personally after the 1st
day of training;
2. 32,95% of participants are sure that training had an impact on how they view themselves personally;
3. 12,5% of participants think this training may have an impact on how they view themselves personally;
4. 2,7% of participants think this training may not have impact on how they view themselves personally;
• Significantly, 97,73% of participants find that the 1st
day of training will change or probably will change how they view themselves personally.
3. THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
3D. The content may change how I interrelate with others 37 45 5 1
Observations
1. 42,05% of participants feel without any doubt that 1st
day of the training will have a direct impact on how they interrelate with others;
2. 51,14% of participants feel sure that the 1st
day of the training will have a direct impact on how they interrelate with others;
3. 5,68% of participants think this training may have an impact on how they interrelate with others;
4. 1,14% of participants think this training may not have an impact on how they interrelate with others;
• Significantly, 98,86% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has provided enough information to change or probably change their view on how they interrelate with
others.
FIRST DAY OF TRAINING: THE USE OF THE CONTENT
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
4A. I learned information applicable in my daily work 28 54 4 3

9. Observations
1. 31,82% of participants feel without any doubt that 1st
day of the training provided information applicable in their daily work;
2. 61,36% of participants feel sure that the 1st
day of the training provided information applicable in their daily work;
3. 4,55% of participants think this 1st
day training may have provided information applicable in their daily work;
4. 4,55% of participants don’t really think this training provided information applicable in their daily work;
• Significantly, 96,59% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has provided information applicable in their work.
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
4B. I would recommend this training to anyone 51 31 5 1
Observations OK
1. 57,95% of participants would recommend without any doubt this 1st
day of training to anyone;
2. 35,23% of participants would recommend this 1st
day of training to anyone;
3. 5,68% of participants think they would recommend this 1st
day of training to anyone;
4. 1,14% of participants don’t think they would recommend this 1st
day of training to anyone.
• Significantly, 98,86% of participants state that after the 1st
day of training, they would recommend this training to anyone including the ones who think they will do so.
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
4C. I find this training fundamental for our type of work 40 40 6 2
Observations OK
1. 45,45% of participants feel without any doubt that 1st
day of the training is fundamental for their type of work;
2. 45,45% of participants feel sure that the 1st
day of the training is fundamental for their type of work;
3. 6,82% of participants think this 1st
day of training is fundamental for their type of work;
4. 2,27% of participants don’t think this 1st
day of training is fundamental for their type of work;
• Significantly, 97,73% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has provided enough information to change their view on how they interrelate with others.
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: OVER
EXPECTATION
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR UNDER
EXPECTATION
4D. I would rate this training day globally 20 46 21 1

10. Observations OK
1. 22,73% of participants rate over expectation that 1st
day of the training;
2. 52,27% of participants rate this 1st
day of training excellent;
3. 23,86% of participants rate this 1st
day of training good;
4. 1,14% of participants rate this 1st
day of training fair.
• Significantly, 100,00% of participants find that the 1st
day of training has provided enough information to change their view on how they interrelate with others.
SECOND DAY OF TRAINING: THE IMPACT OF THE CONTENT
Since we are short on time, and because the numbers are quite similar for the 2 days, we didn’t calculate the percentage, but we are showing a graphic with all the comparatives at the end
of the report.
What we noticed on the assessments, is the “not really” and “absolutely not” came from the same assessments and the answers were the similar in most questions in the assessment, except
for the Use of Content. Which indicates with great probability that the number of 3/88 participants may not have found real positive outcome to this training which means a ratio of 3,41%.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
3A. The content changed my vision on mental health 38 38 5 1 2
3B. The content raised awareness on good mental health 42 40 3 3
3C. The content will have an impact in how I see myself 46 29 11 2
3D. The content may change how I interrelate with others 37 45 5 1
SECOND DAY OF TRAINING: THE USE OF THE CONTENT
The interesting fact about the second day training is right here, regarding the USE OF THE CONTENT. As number shows, all the participants were affirmative about the
positive outcomes, since there are no numbers in the “not really” or absolutely not”.
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: ABSOLUTELY
YES
YES I THINK SO NOT REALLY ABSOLUTELY
NOT
4A. I learned information applicable in my daily work 32 50 6

11. 96,59% 96,59%
97,73%
98,86%
96,59%
98,86%
100% 100%
90,00%
91,00%
92,00%
93,00%
94,00%
95,00%
96,00%
97,00%
98,00%
99,00%
100,00%
3A. The content
changed my vision on
mental health
3B. The content raised
awareness on good
mental health
3C. The content will
have an impact in how
I see myself
3D. The content may
change how I
interrelate with others
4A. I learned
information applicable
in my daily work
4B. I would
recommend this
training to anyone
4C. I find this training
fundamental for our
type of work
4D. I would rate this
training day globally
REPORT OF SATISFACTION MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
THE CALCULATION IS BASED ON THE LEVEL OF PROBABILITY OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES
FROM (ABSOLUTELY YES • YES • I THINK SO ) AND FOR THE QUESTION 4d. (ABOVE AVERAGE • EXCELLENT • GOOD)
4B. I would recommend this training to anyone 48 34 6
4C. I find this training fundamental for our type of work 37 49 2
Again, this is also saying quite much in the interest of the training in its globality. Although some participants didn’t find necessarily positive outcomes for
themselves, they rated the training above fair.
4. THE USE OF THE CONTENT: OVER
EXPECTATION
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR UNDER
EXPECTATION
4D. I would rate this training day globally 16 60 12