Trainer for Women Mental Health

Trainer's Terms of Reference (ToR)

 Enhancing Women Mental Health Throughout the Reproductive Cycle

1. Background:

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is a UK-registered charity that has been reaching out to the Palestinian communities, striving to deliver health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation, and displacement. MAP provides immediate medical aid to those in need at times of crisis, while also developing local capacity and skills to ensure the long-term development of the Palestinian healthcare system.  MAP’s vision is of a future in which all Palestinians can access an effective, sustainable, and locally led system of healthcare and the full realization of their rights to health and dignity.

Women's mental health is a critical component of overall healthcare, significantly influenced by the various stages of the reproductive cycle, including menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Research indicates that mental health disorders are prevalent among women, with studies showing that approximately 20% of women will experience a mental health issue at some point during their reproductive years. (Kuehner, 2017) The hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle can contribute to mood disorders. For example, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects around 50-80% of women of reproductive age, with about 5-8% experiencing severe symptoms classified as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Yonkers et al., 2008).  During pregnancy, approximately 10-20% of women experience significant depressive symptoms, which can impact both maternal and fetal health. The postpartum period is particularly vulnerable, with estimates suggesting that 10-15% of women develop postpartum depression (PPD) (O'Hara & Swain, 1996). This condition not only affects the mother's well-being but can also have long-term consequences for child development.  Despite the high prevalence of mental health issues among women, many family medicine doctors report feeling unprepared to address these concerns effectively. Based on a Family health care mission conducted in August 2024, family medicine doctors and PHC doctors indicated that there is a lack  of adequate training in recognizing and managing mental health conditions related to reproductive health. This gap in knowledge can lead to underdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, and a lack of appropriate referrals, further exacerbating the mental health crisis among women.

Given these statistics, it is essential to equip family medicine doctors with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide comprehensive mental health care tailored to women throughout their reproductive cycles. This training program aims to address these gaps, fostering a holistic approach that integrates mental health into the broader context of women's health.

2-Purpose of the ToR:  

MAP seeks an experienced trainer to deliver three trainings on Women Mental health Through Their Reproductive Cycle. Each training is one day targeting 20-25 family medicine, PHC doctors and nurses.  

3- The training main objective:

The purpose of this training is to enhance the capacity of family medicine, PHC doctors and nurses to recognize, assess, manage and refer mental health issues among women throughout their reproductive cycle.

4- Training specific objective:

• To increase the awareness of the impact of hormonal changes and reproductive events on women's mental health.
• To equip FM doctors, PHC doctors and nurses with practical tools for screening and diagnosing mental health conditions in women at PHC level.
• To develop strategies for providing holistic care that integrates mental and physical health.
• To foster a supportive environment for discussing mental health issues with patients.

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3- Scope of work:

• Prepare and organize course materials including presentations, handouts, and pre-posttests in Arabic.
• Share the training materials, pre and post-tests, and presentations with MAP before delivering the training courses.
• Deliver three training workshops/one day each training
• Utilize appropriate teaching methodologies to accommodate diverse learning styles and levels of experience among participants.
• Write a detailed training report with recommendations for future actions.
• Complete the safeguarding online training via kayaconnect.org and provide the completion certificate to MAP.

4-Qualifications:

• Trainers should possess advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, or a related field, with a specialization in women's mental health.
• A minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in mental health, particularly in women's health settings, including experience in diagnosing and treating conditions
• Evidence of previous training in mental health specifically women mental health
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and motivate course participants.
• Proficiency in delivering interactive training sessions and facilitating hands-on learning activities.
• Fluent in Arabic and strong verbal and written communication skills in English

5. Application and Selection Process

Evaluation Criteria

Score  

1

Technical Approach, Methodology and Outline

50%

2

Qualifications and Experience (include CV/s)

30%

3

Financial proposal

20%

6. Ethical Considerations

As the trainer(s) will be delivering training for MAP’s staff and partners, s/he will be required to adhere to MAP policies and ethical guidelines, including MAP’s safeguarding policy and code of conduct.

6. Technical and Financial offers

Interested trainers are encouraged to send their:  

• Updated resume including references and examples of similar training and the date of the last training.
• Technical offer: including proposed agenda for the training, training material and handouts
• Financial proposals per training day in USD including tax (10% will be deducted for income tax from the offered amount) 

Both technical and financial offers should be sent to West Bank MAP’s office email [email protected] .  The deadline for sending the offers is Monday the 21st of October 2024.