Mental health needs increasingly intersect with emergencies, displacement, outbreaks, and other pressures on health systems across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Strengthening epidemiological capacity to better understand these needs, improve surveillance, and generate evidence for public health action has therefore become increasingly important.

In response, EMPHNET, with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, launched the first Regional Intermediate FETP – Mental Health.

The 12-month program adapts the Intermediate FETP model to focus on mental health, substance use, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The inaugural cohort brings together 24 public health professionals from five countries, supported throughout their learning and fieldwork by 11 in-country mentors.

The launch was attended by H.E. Dr. Amr Kandeel, Deputy Minister of Health and Population of Egypt; Dr. Radi Hammad, President of the Preventive Sector; Dr. Adelard Kakunze, Director of NCD Prevention and Control at Africa CDC; and Dr. Nada Ahmad, the Director of the Center of Communication and Health Promotion at EMPHNET.

Bringing Mental Health into Field Epidemiology

The program responds to a gap in mental health epidemiology capacity across the region. Trained mental health professionals remain scarce relative to population needs, while the evidence needed to guide mental health policies, programs, and responses, particularly during outbreaks and emergencies, remains limited.

To help address this gap, the program uses practical, mentored, workplace-based learning to strengthen competencies in mental health surveillance and epidemiology, applied epidemiologic methods, MHPSS, and evidence-informed communication and decision-making.

This prepares participants to generate and analyze evidence and translate their findings into public health action.

Starting with Mentorship

Before residents began their first regional workshop, the program focused on preparing the mentors who will guide their learning and fieldwork throughout the year and serve as regional mentors for future cohorts

From July 28–30, 2026, 11 national mentors convened in Cairo for a three-day workshop covering mentorship, communication, teamwork, effective feedback, conflict management, and supportive supervision.

Mentors were also oriented to the program’s fieldwork requirements and assessment approaches. Throughout the year, they will provide technical guidance, review residents’ deliverables, and support the quality and ethical implementation of field activities.

Turning Mental Health Data into Action

Following the mentorship workshop, the 24 residents gathered in Cairo from August 2–6, 2026, for their first five-day regional workshop, marking the start of their technical training.

Participants explored core concepts in mental health epidemiology and surveillance, including mental health and substance use disorders, mental health information systems, suicide and self-harm surveillance, surveillance system evaluation, and research and analytical sessions also introduced epidemiological study designs, research protocol development, key epidemiological measures, and surveillance data analysis.

Throughout the workshop, participants applied these concepts to their national contexts. Working in country groups, residents mapped sources of mental health surveillance data, examined how surveillance operates in their countries, and identified limitations and opportunities within existing systems.

Learning in the Field

The first regional workshop marks the beginning of a learning process in which field application plays a central role.

Approximately 75% of the program is dedicated to improving mental health, through solutions developed in the field, by those working in the field.

The blended program includes self-paced online modules, live online workshops, in-person regional workshops, and mentored fieldwork phases conducted in participants’ home countries.

During their national field assignments, residents will address real-world challenges by evaluating mental health surveillance systems, analyzing mental health data, communicating mental health information, identifying gaps in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and designing projects to address these gaps.

The fieldwork is designed not only to strengthen residents’ individual capacities in surveillance, field investigation, communication, and leadership, but also to improve MHPSS through practical, locally driven solutions developed by those working directly in the field.

Building Regional Capacity Through Specialized FETP Training

Bringing professionals from five countries together creates opportunities to exchange experiences and learn from different surveillance systems, challenges, and public health contexts.

The Regional Intermediate FETP – Mental Health applies the FETP learning-by-doing model to mental health, connecting epidemiological practice with surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, research, and evidence-informed decision-making.

As residents move into their fieldwork, they will apply these competencies to mental health priorities within their respective countries. Through specialized FETP training, EMPHNET and its partners are supporting a workforce equipped to generate and use evidence to address evolving public health priorities across the region.