APW - To Map and Strengthen Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Services and Referral for Children and Adolescents in Malaysia

1. BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the extent and severity of the global mental health crisis, affecting particularly strongly on children and adolescents. Limited social interactions and interrupted education and employment have negatively impacted young people’s mental health, while at the same time resources have been diverted away from mental health services.

Children and adolescents in Malaysia already face a substantial burden of poor mental health and psychosocial well-being. Data from the 2022 National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) showed that one in four adolescents is battling depression, while one in eight has suicidal thoughts. Alarmingly, one in ten has acted upon these thoughts, placing suicide as the third top cause of adolescent fatalities in the nation.

The Ministry of Health (“MOH”) has developed a comprehensive National Strategic Plan for Mental Health 2020-2025, with several national targets, including reduction of depression amongst adolescents from 18% to 10% by 2025. To further accelerate the implementation of the National Strategic Plan, the MOH has also launched the National Centre of Excellence on Mental Health (NCEMH) with the aim to serve as a coordinating centre, incorporating strategic collaboration among public, private, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in planning and implementing promotion and prevention efforts in mental health.

Recognizing the urgent need to support countries to accelerate action for young people’s mental health, WHO and UNICEF have come together to co-create and deliver a Joint Programme on the mental health and psychosocial well-being and development of children and adolescents (“Joint Programme”). The Joint Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of countries to implement child- and adolescent-centred, evidence-informed, and human-rights based multisectoral strategies to deliver opportunities, support and services for children, adolescents, and their caregivers.

In line with the NCEMH’s plan to promote multi-sectorial responses to support the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents, a review of current available resources and MHPSS services is needed. The review also needs to include the referral systems between stakeholders and its effectiveness. This is in line with strategy 2 of the Joint Programme that aims to “Strengthen mental health and psychosocial service delivery and care systems”.

A contractor is required to implement the comprehensive MHPSS service mapping exercise in Malaysia and strengthen referral capacities between stakeholders.

2. PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

To primary purpose of this contract is to assist the WCO in mapping and strengthening the currently available services, capacities, and referral mechanisms for the delivery of multisectoral MHPSS services for children and adolescents in Malaysia.

3. METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The work will include desk-based reviews, quantitative and qualitative data collection, as well as in-person engagements (i.e technical workshops, focus group discussions) with stakeholders, including youth representatives and people with lived experience. The work will be conducted under the guidance of a Technical Working Group consisting of representatives from WHO, UNICEF and MOH.

4. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1 Produce a comprehensive service mapping report outlining current available Children and Adolescent MHPSS services in Malaysia:

Deliverable 1.1 Overall project workplan and list of relevant stakeholders for children and adolescent mental health to be consulted.

Deliverable 1.2 Consultation reports (focus group discussions, thematic workshops, one to one interviews) with relevant stakeholders.

Deliverable 1.3 Identification of available MHPSS services for children and adolescents and referral processes and pathways to care between stakeholders.

Output 2 Support the strengthening of referral and back-referral networks for Children and Adolescent MHPSS services in Malaysia:

Deliverable 2.1 Summary of the current MHPSS referral processes and pathways for care among stakeholders.

Deliverable 2.2 Recommendations to strengthen referral processes between stakeholders based on identified strengths and weaknesses of the current processes.

Deliverable 2.3 Detailed report on recommendations for strengthening referral processes and pathways.

5. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: Team member(s) with a university degree in medicine, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, social work or behavioural sciences from an institution or university recognized in the International Association of Universities’ Worldwide Database of Higher Education Institutions, Systems and Credentials (WHED)

Desirable: Team member(s) with an advanced university degree in the related fields of mental health or public health.

EXPERIENCE

Required: Minimum five years' work and/or research experience in health or mental health systems and programmes.

Desirable: Experience working with the MOH Malaysia at national or state level on mental health programme(s); relevant work or research experience on mental health systems strengthening, service mapping and/or assessment.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the specific or technical area of public health, mental health, psychology and/or psychiatry
• In-depth understanding of the operational dynamics of both public and private health and mental health systems in Malaysia (including civil society organisations)

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

LANGUAGES

Fluent in written and spoken English and Malay.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, private healthcare providers, civil society organisations, and patient advocacy groups.
• Skilled in mediating conflicting interests and fostering cooperation among different stakeholders to achieve project goals.
• Exceptional organizational and research skills.
• Ability to work independently and produce high quality outputs.
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit a Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 14 March 2024

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include a financial proposal.

Please use Tender Notice No. 227641 as subject to all submission.

Only successful candidates will be contacted.