GTC through it’s staff, started a new project under the generous support of the City of Cologne - Germany, by providing a new and pioneer services to all classes of the society aiming to raise the level of awareness. The preventive services provided by the Awareness Campaign came as a result of the conclusion of the past 14 years in the field which showed clearly the importance of awareness, education, and preventive measures in mental health. The mental health awareness project will approach different categories of the society through different means, varying from direct to indirect and from personal to group. Mass media, publications, workshops and conferences through outreach and internet will be utilized to serve the campaign in the best way possible.


Funded by the City of Cologne - Germany   


News of the Campaign

The Guidance and Training Center for the Child and Family in Bethlehem held an open day about the awareness campaign in mental health, which the Center is following up in the next two years, in the presence of Dr. Victor Batarseh, Mayor of Bethlehem and the representatives of health, education and other institutions as well as interested parties and the General Assembly and Board of the Center. Vera Baboun, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, gave a summary about the Center through its work since 1994 and the challenges it faces.

Dr. Samah Jabr, the Director of Mental Health Services at the Center, gave a briefing about the services that the Center offers and its importance in meeting the needs of the Palestinian society.

After that the guests were given a tour of the Center where its staff responded to questions. It is worth mentioning that GTC started an awareness campaign in mental health as a two year project with support from the City of Cologne, which comes within the twining agreement between Cologne and the City of Bethlehem. The project also includes working with professionals like school teachers and those who work with children and the family, with the goal of giving them the knowledge and experience necessary to improve their awareness of the importance of mental health and how to identify cases that need professional intervention.