On April 25 to 27, 2026, A-PAD Bangladesh conducted a mental health training in Cox’s Bazar.  25 participants, including healthcare professionals from local hospitals, health organizations, and NGOs, took part in the training, aiming to improve their understanding and practical skills in psychosocial support in disaster and humanitarian aid settings.

This training is a new initiative implemented this year as part of an effort to strengthen community disaster response capabilities through comprehensive disaster preparedness training. It aims to cultivate supporters who can respond to the psychological impacts of disasters, evacuation, and community life, including stress, trauma, and anxiety. The participants learned about general mental health issues, psychological first aid, stress management, and trauma care.

The training, guided by instructors, introduced practical approaches to early identification of individuals in need of care and appropriate responses. Participants learned basic counseling skills and active listening techniques, and deepened their understanding of accessing referral services for those requiring specialized care. Through interactive sessions and case studies, they also gained concrete insights into how to respond to situations that may arise in real-world support settings.

Through this training, participants deepened their practical knowledge of psychological first aid, supportive communication, and referrals to professional services. The team hopes that the participants’ involvement in awareness-raising and support activities in their communities will lead to improving the quality of mental health support services and strengthening community resilience in Bangladesh.