Beirut, September 30, 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Lebanon and the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) have officially launched a €2 million EU-funded project Promoting Individual and Communal Mental Health, Psychosocial Well-being, and Social Cohesion in Beirut. The initiative is implemented by IOM in close collaboration with the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
This support is part of the EU’s response to the devastating conflict in Lebanon, placing the well-being, resilience and social cohesion of conflict-affected and displaced communities in Lebanon as its core.
Commencing in May 2025, this 18-month project underscores the shared commitment of IOM, EU and national partners to strengthen mental health and psychosocial well-being as a foundation for community resilience, social stability, and long-term recovery. Activities will be implemented in Beirut, North, Mount Lebanon, and South Lebanon, targeting host, displaced, and migrant communities, particularly in conflict-affected areas. The project comes at a critical time, as individuals, families and communities continue to grapple with the compounded effects of overlapping crises, including the most recent conflict.
The launch event brought together a senior delegation from the EU, led by Jesper Pedersen, Head of Unit for Rapid Response in Africa and the Middle East, (FPI), alongside Dr. Rabih El Chammay, Head of the NMHP at the MoPH, and Mathieu Luciano, IOM Lebanon Head of Office.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rabih highlighted the need for a holistic approach: “It is time we prioritize the linkages between mental health, peacebuilding and security. Addressing well-being requires us to consider the social determinants that affect individuals, communities, and society at large”.
Dr. Rabih also emphasized NMHP’s efforts to foster collaborative governance by partnering with key stakeholders in Lebanon to mainstream mental health across relevant sectors, including health, protection, and education.
IOM presented the project’s framework and expected outcomes, with a focus on strengthening local institutional capacities to respond to the mental health needs of host, displaced, and migrant communities. “By linking capacity-building with direct service delivery, we aim to create a sustainable, government-led model that places communities at the centre,” said Mathieu Luciano, IOM Lebanon Head of Office.
The EU delegation commended the NMHP for its pioneering leadership in mental health and emphasized the importance of sharing Lebanon’s experience globally. “We hope the knowledge generated here can serve as a model for strengthening mental health systems and response across the region and beyond,’ said Jesper Pedersen, Head of Unit for Rapid Response in Africa and the Middle East.
The launch reaffirmed EU and IOM’s joint commitment to advancing Lebanon’s national mental health priorities, as outlined in the 2024-2030 Mental Health Strategy, ensuring inclusive, sustainable and high-quality mental health and psychosocial support for all communities.
Following the launch event, the delegation visited the Migration and Service Development (MSD) centre, a national NGO and IOM partner, to gain firsthand insights into their community-based mental health and psychosocial support programming. The visit highlighted the essential role of local services in advancing resilience and strengthening social fabric within communities.