Since 2023, Lebanon has confronted successive shocks—political dysfunction, economic collapse, hostilities in 2023, and full-scale conflict in 2024—that have strained its health system to breaking point. Hospitals operating with scarce staff and supplies now face a surge in psychosocial needs among patients, as well as mounting emotional weariness among health care workers. In response, a new training drive has been launched to equip frontline staff with the skills needed to deliver mental health services and psychosocial support.
Coordinated training initiative across public and private hospitals
The training programme is led by the World Health Organization in partnership with Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. It is part of Lebanon’s emergency preparedness and response framework. The effort targets staff in both public and private hospitals, with priority given to nurses, emergency physicians, and rehabilitation professionals.
Workshops were designed in consultation with hospital administration and aligned with national accreditation standards. They build on existing mental health training provided before 2023/2024, while addressing newly emergent demands. Key training modules include:
Management of acute psychiatric emergencies: equipping physicians to manage cases in facilities without psychiatric specialists.
Emotional Crisis Management (ECM): giving nurses de-escalation techniques, stress management, and self-care strategies.
Breaking Bad News (BBN): enabling nurses to communicate difficult information with empathy.
MHPSS for rehabilitation professionals: supporting persons with disabilities, particularly those injured in conflict.
To build sustainability, selected nurses received advanced ECM training so they can act as in-hospital trainers.
Results and early impact
The programme has reached a wide scale in a short time:
Over 1,800 nurses trained in ECM across 110+ hospitals.
More than 1,900 nurses trained in BBN in 115 hospitals.
160 physicians trained in managing psychiatric emergencies across 58 hospitals.
Around 200 rehabilitation professionals trained in MHPSS.
81 nurses trained with advanced ECM skills across 56 hospitals.
Despite challenges—nurse fatigue, inconsistent physician participation, and gaps in documentation—the initiative reports high satisfaction and measurable learning gains. Trainers and managers say skills are already being applied. One nurse shared that BBN training reshaped how she supported her father during amputation recovery; another used ECM methods to calm distressed families.
Embedding mental health into hospital systems
The advanced ECM course is a first step toward institutionalization, with plans to integrate modules into annual nurse training. The project underscores the importance of protecting frontline staff well-being during and after emergencies. It also shows how crises can drive integration of mental health services into hospital care, reducing stigma and strengthening resilience.
Wider context: crisis and urgent needs
The training comes amid severe strain: attacks on hospitals and health workers have been verified, compounding shortages and insecurity. Trauma, anxiety, and depression are widespread, with some communities turning to unconventional coping strategies, including digital support. Reform proposals include a “5×5” model—US $5 million annually over five years—to expand nationwide services. Meanwhile, children are experiencing declines in mental health, nutrition, and education, underscoring the urgency of system-wide interventions.
Key takeaways and outlook
- Emergencies can accelerate embedding mental health services in health systems.
- Training frontline workers yields immediate benefits when institutionalized.
- Sustainable funding and systemic reform are needed for national coverage.
- Expanding training to security staff and other personnel will boost impact.
Lebanon’s experience may serve as a model for other conflict-affected countries, showing that prioritizing psychosocial care is both a humanitarian and public health necessity.
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