Mental Health and Psychological Support Assessment: MHPSS Assessment in Educational Facilities in Iraq (2023)

This assessment examines the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) environment within educational facilities targeted by Iraq’s Multi‑Year Resilience Programme (MYRP). Drawing on surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations across eight governorates, the study identifies significant gaps affecting student well‑being, safety, and inclusion. While teachers express confidence in understanding students’ psychosocial needs, findings reveal widespread negative behaviours, including shouting, corporal punishment, and inconsistent support for bullying survivors. Empathy, respect, and peer‑support initiatives exist but are largely informal and irregular, constrained by the absence of structured MHPSS or SEL curricula. Discrimination is minimal along gender, displacement, or disability lines, but students who underperform academically commonly face poorer treatment. Caregiver engagement remains limited, and formal mechanisms for identifying or referring children with specialized MHPSS needs are weak or absent in many facilities. Overall, the assessment underscores the urgent need for systematic MHPSS integration, stronger teacher training, structured school‑based well‑being programmes, and improved caregiver‑school collaboration to create safer, more supportive learning environments for crisis‑affected children in Iraq.