Deadline: 13-Jul-25
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth, is inviting applications to support a new program focused on promoting mental health and wellbeing among young people.
This initiative falls under UNICEF’s broader Adolescents Development and Participation (ADAP) program, which is dedicated to equipping adolescents and youth in Jordan with the skills and opportunities needed to grow into resilient and productive adults. The mental health program seeks to address the pressing emotional and psychological challenges that young people in the country face today.
For many youth in Jordan, mental health is shaped by a web of social relationships and situational pressures. Worries about the present and uncertainty about the future often weigh heavily on their emotional state. Insights gathered from focus groups and interviews with young people, caregivers, and mental health professionals reveal that many adolescents experience feelings of fear and shame that prevent them from speaking openly about their struggles.
These feelings also discourage them from seeking support, whether from peers or professional mental health services, further deepening the issue of stigma.
The program aims to increase mental health literacy and support systems through a series of targeted activities. One key component involves building the capacity of professionals and frontline workers, particularly those in the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Health, as well as young people actively engaged in mental health advocacy.
This will be achieved through six workshops designed to train 150 participants, equipping them with the skills necessary to better support youth mental health needs.
Access to mental health education will be expanded by embedding mental health literacy resources into 60 youth and health centers across Jordan. These centers will act as consistent sources of mental health knowledge, helping young people develop a more informed and supportive understanding of emotional well-being.
To further normalize mental health discussions and reduce stigma, the program will establish safe, open spaces within community-based centers—including UNICEF youth centers in refugee camps and Ministry of Youth facilities. These spaces will be designed to engage 3,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in open, inclusive conversations around mental health, while also involving their parents and caregivers in the process.
In an effort to drive innovation, the program will empower 2,100 young individuals to create youth-friendly digital content and campaigns. These young participants will design multimedia materials, launch social media initiatives, and explore artificial intelligence-based solutions as part of a mental health innovation challenge. By tapping into their creativity and lived experiences, the program hopes to generate relevant, relatable tools that can resonate with their peers and broaden the impact of the initiative.
To measure the effectiveness of these interventions, an impact study will be conducted. This evaluation will assess the shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among both professionals and young people regarding mental health and well-being. Through these efforts, UNICEF and its partners aim not only to improve access to mental health resources but also to foster a culture of openness, empathy, and support for Jordan’s youth.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
