Qualifications

Area of expertise: 

International Consultant – Child and Adolescents Mental Health

Purpose of consultancy:

WHO is collaborating with UNICEF for the implementation of a UNICEF-WHO Joint Programme on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and development of children and adolescents (the “Joint Programme”) aiming to improve capacities to support accelerated efforts at global, regional and country levels.

Background  

Currently, the global burden of mental health problems in children & adolescents remains grave and unaddressed. Worldwide, 1 in 10 children and adolescents experience a mental disorder; half of all mental disorders begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s; mental and brain conditions are the leading cause of disability in young people in all regions; and 1 in 4 children is living with a parent who has a mental disorder. Suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death globally among 15–19-year-old girls and the 4^th leading cause of death among 15–19-year-old boys.  The risk for mental health conditions among children, adolescents, and caregivers are often exacerbated by poverty, violence, disease or humanitarian crises. The effects of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence can persist throughout the life-course, with serious health and socio-economic implications.

Awareness and interest in addressing mental health conditions continue to increase in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as data supports an increase in mental health problems and conditions (i.e., depressive symptoms, behavioral problems and substance use) among children, adolescents and youth, as well as significant delay in seeking help and lower access to care due mainly to school closure and disruption of services. Children are more likely to experience mental health problems when caregivers report high rates of psychosocial distress and when families experience socioeconomic challenges. 

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child underscores important goals in the agreement among nations to operate in the best interest of children. This includes but is not limited to protection from violence/exploitation, access to essential care, and the facilitation of their development. Failure to adhere to the convention will result in poor outcomes for children, and consequently, poor outcomes for their mental health. Reciprocally, inaction for the protection of children’s mental health threatens the objectives of the Convention.

In the WHO South-East Asia Region, the burden of MNSS among children aged 5–14 years is significant, compared with that of other health conditions, measured by both YLDs and DALYs. Mental health conditions accounted for 25% of all YLDs and 15% of all DALYs in the age group 5–14 years, underscoring the need for priority attention for this age group. Intellectual disability, child behaviour disorders, anxiety and depression were the commonest conditions significantly contributing the burden among the 5-14 year age-group.

Deliverables

• Provide technical advice and facilitate timely implementation of UNICEF WHO Joint Programme workplans in Bhutan and Maldives. 
• Facilitate compilation of monthly reports required by the Joint Programme. 
• Facilitate coordination between WHO and UNICEF, including with focal points in Bhutan and Maldives for the implementation of the Joint Programme workplans. 
• Support and coordinate development of landscape reports on child mental health and adolescent mental health in WHO South-East Asia Region. 
• Provide technical advice and facilitate development of workplans, capacity building, strengthening of policies, services and programmes for child and adolescent mental health in SEAR Member States. 
• Support strengthening of school mental health programmes in Member States. 
• Facilitate adaptation, dissemination and uptake of WHO normative guidance and tools on adolescent mental health by Member States in the Region. 
• Draft advocacy materials for dissemination events on child and adolescent mental health. 
• Contribute to a joint learning series on child and adolescent mental health as a part of the Joint Programme. 
• Any other activity related to mental health entrusted by RA-MHS. 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential: Master’s degree in public health

Desirable: Postgraduate Degree in psychology or psychiatry.

Experience  

Essential: Up to 5 years of experience in working in the areas of mental health or child and adolescent mental health, including international experience.

Desirable: Working in International organanization

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential: Excellent writing skills

Desirable: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Expert knowledge of English required

Desirable: Expert knowledge of English required

Location:

Off-site

Travel:  N/A

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration: Band level – A; Monthly remuneration of USD 4500

Living expenses: N/A

Expected duration of contract (tentative): Two weeks to 24 months

Additional Informaiton:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. 
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. 
• A written test may be used as a form of screening. 
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. 
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