CON2024 47 Mental Health Consultant (PHU) - 2 Positions

Project Context and Scope:

The rise of telehealth, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted its potential in delivering healthcare services remotely. Mental health care, in particular, stands to benefit from telehealth modalities. Lebanon has witnessed recently multiple outward and inward movements and migration pattenrs. The Lebanese living abroad might like to connect with mental health specialists who understand the grassroot level of the problem and can related with the Lebanese context. However, a comprehensive feasibility study is required to evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility, and overall impact of telehealth services for mental health cases.

IOM will undertake a feasibility study over six months for telemedicine in mental health services in collaboration with the National Mental Health Working Group.

This study aims to provide recommendations on the most effective ways to implement telemedicine for mental health. The results of this feasibility study will facilitate future direction on mental telehealth for interested stakeholders. This aligns with the second and third objectives of the National Mental Health Strategy on ensuring individuals can access high quality care regardless of their place of residence and empowering individuals with needed tools and resources to do so.

This feasibility study will be implemented with funds from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aiming to contribute to addressing the drivers of irregular migration for vulnerable Lebanese and Syrians in high-risk areas, focusing on access to healthcare, as well as mental health and psychosocial support services.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:

The consultant will contribute to IOM Lebanon’s Public Health Programme under a project titled ‘’PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN COMMUNITIES PRONE TO IRREGULAR MIGRATION ‘’.

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment:

• Outline the objectives of the feasibility study, focusing on the evaluation of telemedicine’s effectiveness, accessibility, and overall impact on mental health services. (4 weeks)
• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature on telemedicine for mental health, including studies on effectiveness, barriers, and success factors. (2 weeks)
• Develop and administer surveys, interviews, and focus groups as per the agreed methodology to collect data from stakeholders, including healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers. (6 weeks)
• Analyze the collected data to assess the feasibility, legal framework, effectiveness, and accessibility of telemedicine for mental health including a detailed cost analysis of the final product. (6 weeks)  
• Write an operational report detailing the findings, recommendations, and proposed implementation strategies. (6 weeks)

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

• Providing high quality documents that can be used as a reference for future projects.
• Effective coordination with different stakeholders involved in the project.
• Good analysis and interpretation of the data collected.
• Detailed operational report on the findings, recommendations and proposed implementation strategies.
• Timely submission of the above deliverables.

Education, Experience and/or skills required:

Education: Master’s Degree or PHD in Public Health, Health Services Research, or a Related Field.

Experience: 

• Proven experience in conducting feasibility studies or evaluations in healthcare.
• Knowledge of telehealth platforms, digital health tools, and remote healthcare technologies.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Understanding of ethical considerations and regulations related to telemedicine and mental health services in Lebanon.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Duration of Consultancy: 120 working days till March 2025.

Travel required: No (Remote Consultancy)

Competencies:

Values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators:

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.