Mental Health Specialist

Mental Health Specialist © Stephan Grosse Rueschkamp/MSF

 

As a mental health specialist with MSF, you may work with people suffering from various levels of distress related to a conflict or natural disaster, with victims of sexual violence or with people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, you could be asked to develop a programme and to train local counselors.

Basic Requirements: 
  • Commitment to the aims and values of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
  • Minimum two years of significant and relevant professional experience post-qualification
  • Demonstrated ability to work well as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience in supervising, training and managing others
  • Flexibility and ability to cope with stress
  • Willingness to work in unstable environments
  • Minimum of 3 months' relevant travel or work experience in developing countries
  • Available to work in the field for a minimum of 9 months
  • MSF is always looking for people with language skills and at the moment we are particularly looking for field workers with good French, Arabic, Spanish or Portuguese.

You should meet all the basic as well as the essential requirements relevant to your profession before applying to MSF.

Essential Requirements: 

Formal education and post qualification in one of the following:

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Counselling Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Community Psychiatric Nursing (with additional psychological therapy qualification)
  • Social work (with additional psychological therapy qualification)
  • Psychiatry (with additional psychological therapy qualification)

Demonstrable experience in:

  • Teaching and training
  • Managing teams
  • The clinical supervision of others
  • Treating trauma related problems
Desirable Requirements: 
  • A working understanding of psychiatric medication
  • Experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS/TB care
  • Experience working with the survivors of sexual violence
  • Previous experience working in developing countries
  • A second language (preferably French, Arabic, Spanish or Portuguese)

Ideally, you should apply 3-6 months before you are thinking of going overseas.

If you feel that you meet our basic and specific requirements you can complete the application form online by clicking here