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UNESCO supported the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for the well-being of Palestinian university students. In partnership with AFKAR Organization for Educational and Cultural Development and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, UNESCO launched a training to strengthen and ensure the continuity of their learning in a healthier environment. This training is crucial to creating a supportive and resilient educational environment for the students.

Targeting 45 youth, 4th-year psychology and social work students across the West Bank, the students were trained to deliver tailored peer-to-peer MHPSS services and equipped with self-help guidance aimed to directly reach and support 1,350 peers with structured MHPSS support through group sessions. Expanding the reach of mental health support across various geographical areas, fostering a culture of openness and support around mental health issues. Three universities were selected for training implementation: An Najah National University in Nablus, Birzeit University in Ramallah, and Hebron University in Hebron. These universities represented the northern, central, and southern regions of the West Bank. 

Students were able to create a sustainable MHPSS network within universities, aiming to enhance access to support services for university students by identifying barriers and implementing strategies to overcome them. Helmi Faris, one of the students who after giving a peer-to-peer session, said: “It shaped our personalities as coaches, it became a part of our personal skills.”  Another student, Kenana Hileqawi, said: “This training helped me a lot, it transformed my personality. I started spreading positive energy even more.”

Key methods used in this training included hands-on group activities and practical individual exercises, techniques like role-playing, storytelling, art-based expression (e.g., drawing, mosaic), and physical movement. Video presentations and discussions, tools for self-assessment and reflection, interactive discussions, and sharing of personal experiences were also part of the approach. The training encouraged self-awareness and emotional regulation, equipping participants with practical tools for supporting peers during crises. It focused on positive thinking, problem-solving strategies, and building emotional intelligence and social skills, aiming to strengthen psychological resilience and build a sense of purpose to navigate daily challenges and long-term goals.

As part of UNESCO’s project “Addressing Learners’ Mental Health Needs to Enhance Learning and Well-being in Palestinian Schools” " university students were trained to become part of a national MHPSS team, contributing to long-term mental health strategies within the education sector.  Through this project and other MHPSS projects, UNESCO continues to build a core network of trained individuals to enhance its outreach especially to more marginalized communities.