IsraAID and Vanuatu Ministry launch Mental Health Support Call Centre to meet growing demand

Feb 11, 2025 | News | 0

IsraAID, in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), has launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Call Centre, a crucial initiative to provide essential emotional and psychological support to community members in need.

The dedicated call centre offers a confidential space where individuals can discuss their fears, worries, and emotional struggles with trained professionals. This initiative responds to the growing demand for accessible mental health services in Vanuatu.

IsraAID Vanuatu’s Country Director, Gayle Deighton, noted the significance of this partnership, particularly in the wake of the recent earthquake response.

She explained that the call centre is open to all citizens across Vanuatu, offering anonymous services through phone calls and text messages. The service includes follow-ups for individuals requiring psychosocial support and referrals to relevant government departments for more in-depth mental health assistance.

In addition to the call centre, IsraAID is actively involved in a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programme, integrating support within affected communities. Deighton mentioned the initiative also addresses trauma experienced by individuals returning to their homes after disaster-related displacement, particularly in tsunami-prone areas.

“Mental health support should be accessible to everyone, whenever they need it,” said Deighton. “This partnership with the Ministry of Health allows us to reach more people and provide crucial support during challenging times.”

IsraAID has a history of training local professionals to ensure sustainability in mental health services. The organisation has previously collaborated with the Vanuatu government to train community members in psychosocial support, dating back to its response to Cyclone Pam in 2015.

The trainers involved in the current initiative are not volunteers but paid professionals known as call centre attendants, who have undergone specialised training to provide psychological assistance. Many of these workers had previously contributed to a similar call centre established during the COVID-19 pandemic and have now received updated training to address current emergencies.

The MHPSS Call Centre operates seven days a week, from 9am to 3pm, offering free and confidential services in Bislama, English, and French.

The call centre has been well received, with a high volume of calls and text messages, including outreach beyond Efate and Shefa. Many individuals have expressed gratitude for the service, reinforcing its importance in providing much-needed mental health support during times of crisis.

The MHPSS Call Centre is a 12-week programme that started three weeks ago and is scheduled to run until mid-April. Deighton explained that mental health concerns often emerge later in an emergency response, which is why the initiative is structured to align with the needs of affected communities over time. Although it is not a permanent service, efforts are being made to integrate it into broader disaster response frameworks in Vanuatu.

IsraAID, a global humanitarian response agency, has been working in Vanuatu since Cyclone Pam in 2015. The organisation has established a physical office in Port Vila since 2017 and continues to support disaster recovery and resilience-building efforts. IsraAID has primarily focused on PENAMA Province and SHEFA, expanding its reach to Efate and planning future initiatives in MALAMPA Province.

Their work includes domestic violence awareness programmes, WASH projects, and nutritional health initiatives.

Looking ahead, IsraAID is preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Cyclone Pam in 2025, marking a decade of partnership with the Vanuatu government and local communities.

As part of its strategic vision through 2028, the organisation is working to integrate disaster response with long-term psychosocial support, ensuring that mental health remains a key priority alongside physical recovery efforts.

Community members seeking support can contact the MHPSS Call Centre via calls or text messages at 5737985, 5732153, 7687177, or 7687146.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Skills competition brings Pacific nations together in Vanuatu October 21, 2026
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Child sexual abuse cases have revealed a disturbing pattern: children are being abused not by strangers, but by people they know and trust, including fathers, relatives, teachers and others in positions of responsibility. Vanuatu cannot undo the sexual abuse many children have suffered. But it can decide what happens when the next child comes forward. With the Child Protection Bill before Parliament this month, Members of Parliament (MPs) have an important opportunity to strengthen protections for children and ensure a stronger response to abuse. The Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services (MOJYCS) says recent cases demonstrate the need for a stronger national response, including protection and support for children beyond the criminal prosecution of offenders. A five-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her father, who was sentenced to five years and six months in prison in August this year. 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A prison sentence is not a child protection plan The Ministry argues that reports of criminal convictions reveal much less about what happens to the children themselves after abuse is discovered. “The cases reported in the newspapers tell us something about how Vanuatu’s criminal justice system responds to child sexual abuse. But they tell us much less about what happens to the children themselves,” MOJYCS says. Referring to the five-year-old girl whose father was sentenced for sexually assaulting her, the Ministry says the court’s decision explains the consequences for the perpetrator but does not establish what protection was put in place when the abuse came to light, whether other children were at risk or what support was available to help her recover. These questions, the Ministry says, are just as important as the criminal prosecution. The MOJYCS describes a situation in which a girl tells her teacher that someone at home has been sexually abusing her. She is frightened to return home, her mother may be financially dependent on the perpetrator, and younger children in the household may also be at risk. “The police can investigate the crime. But who assesses whether she is safe to go home that afternoon? Who helps her family find a safe way forward? Who ensures she receives medical care, counselling and ongoing support? And who follows up to make sure she remains safe?” the Ministry asks. “These questions cannot wait months or years for a criminal trial to conclude.” Vanuatu already has laws criminalising rape, incest and other sexual offences. Police, prosecutors and courts play an essential role in investigating crimes and holding perpetrators accountable. However, the MOJYCS says criminal investigations and child protection responses serve different purposes. “A criminal investigation asks whether an offence was committed and who is responsible. A child protection response must ask a different, equally urgent question: is this child safe, and what needs to happen now to protect them?” the Ministry says. “Protecting a child must begin when abuse comes to light, not when a perpetrator is convicted.” The Ministry says this is why the proposed Child Protection Bill matters. The Bill seeks to establish a stronger legal framework for protecting children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It would establish clearer reporting responsibilities, strengthen the authority of child protection officers to assess and respond to abuse, and provide mechanisms for emergency protection, court orders and safe alternative care. The MOJYCS says these measures would establish clear responsibilities and provide the legal authority needed to intervene when a child is in danger. “A child who discloses sexual abuse needs more than a police investigation. That child needs to be safe tonight, tomorrow and in the months and years that follow,” the Ministry says. Parliament has an opportunity to act The MOJYCS recognises that families, chiefs, churches and communities all have important roles in protecting children. However, it says informal arrangements and goodwill are not always enough when abuse occurs within a family or community. Children need a system with clear legal responsibilities, trained professionals and the authority to intervene when their safety is at risk, the Ministry says. It also cautions that legislation alone will not end child sexual abuse. A strong Child Protection Bill must be backed by trained child protection officers, accessible services, effective referral pathways and sustained investment, including in rural and remote communities. Without these investments, the MOJYCS warns, the promise of stronger legal protection risks remaining just that — a promise. For children experiencing abuse, the Ministry says, the issues are not abstract questions about legislation or government responsibilities. They concern immediate safety, dignity, care and recovery. The MOJYCS says a child’s access to protection should not depend on where they live, whom they know or whether someone happens to be available to help when they disclose abuse. “To the MPs who will consider the Child Protection Bill this month: the children behind these headlines deserve more than our concern. They deserve action,” the Ministry says. “Vanuatu cannot undo the abuse these children have suffered. But it can decide what happens when the next child comes forward. “Pass a strong Child Protection Bill. Commit the resources needed to make it work. And ensure that when a read more…

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