Information About MHF

The Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program is a prerequisite for the National Certified Counselor - Bhutan (NCC-Bhutan) and is a flagship program of the BBCC. The MHF program training is a 30-clock-hour training for all frontline helpers, including social workers, counselors, community-based helpers, health workers, and teachers. The training program is a community-centered program that aims to reduce the gap between mental health care needs and resources in the community and complements existing care recourses to increase mental health services for underserved and never-served communities.

The MHF program trains people in basic helping and referral skills with the goal of increasing service capacity for meeting global mental health needs through the local community. The curriculum encompasses the following topics:

• Communication and helping skills
• Identifying local mental health resources
• Connecting care networks and community organizations to individuals in need
• Mental stress, distress, and disorder of the community
• Working with empathy, integrity, and respect for diversity

Through community-based training, MHF trainees learn to apply universal mental health skills to local community experiences, including:

• Assessment, identification, support, and referral for mental health concerns within Bhutan
• Evaluation of individual strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences
• Consideration of community resources and care networks