The MHR Program is the global engine of youth-led mental health transformation.

Built by and for young people, it empowers a new generation to lead change where systems fall short — offering tools, training, and platforms for support, healing, and advocacy. Rooted in empathy and equity, the program redefines mental health not as a service delivered to youth, but a movement led by them. From refugee camps to classrooms, from policy tables to peer groups, the MHR Program is where lived experience becomes leadership — and where global change begins, one voice at a time.

1. Peer-Led Support

2. Youth Leadership Training

3. Community Action & Outreach

At the heart of the MHR Program is the belief that those who have lived through mental health challenges are best equipped to support others. Our peer-led approach builds empathy, trust, and cultural relevance—offering safe spaces for youth to heal, connect, and grow together.

We equip young people with practical tools and knowledge to lead mental health initiatives in their own communities. From emotional literacy to project design, our training programs foster confidence, critical thinking, and long-term leadership in mental health advocacy.

Through school clubs, local campaigns, and community-based events, participants translate knowledge into action. MHR supports youth in organizing mental health activities tailored to their local realities, breaking stigma and sparking dialogue where it’s needed most.

4. Policy Advocacy

5. Innovation & Technology

6. Equity & Inclusion

Youth voices deserve to be heard at the highest levels. MHR trains young advocates to engage with policymakers, speak at global forums, and shape inclusive mental health strategies. We connect grassroots activism with national and international decision-making.

From 3D holographic mentors to AI-based trauma support tools, MHR integrates cutting-edge technology to reach underserved populations. Innovation is not an add-on — it’s a core strategy to scale impact and ensure no one is left behind.

Every aspect of the MHR Program is grounded in equity. We prioritize marginalized youth — including refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those in conflict zones — ensuring that mental health support is not only available, but relevant and just.

Implementation of the MHR Program

The Mental Health Rescuers (MHR) Program follows a structured, evidence-informed implementation model designed to empower youth to deliver localized mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) at scale. Its design ensures operational adaptability across humanitarian, post-conflict, and development settings, while maintaining fidelity to quality, equity, and sustainability standards.

1. Contextual Mapping and Partnership Engagement

Prior to implementation, MHR conducts a localized needs and opportunity assessment in collaboration with regional stakeholders. This includes mapping:

Existing mental health infrastructure
Youth networks and institutions (schools, NGOs, refugee communities)
Sociocultural barriers and enablers to mental health service delivery
Alignment with national MHPSS strategies and SDGs

MHR then formalizes cooperation frameworks with local implementing partners and government entities to ensure coordination, access, and long-term sustainability.

2. Youth Identification and Selection

Youth participants are identified through schools, refugee services, youth organizations, or targeted outreach. Criteria for inclusion are context-dependent but prioritize:

Age (typically 15–30)

Motivation to engage in mental health work

Representation of underserved or high-risk populations

Community ties and leadership potential

All participants are formally registered within the MHR Program database.

3. Standardized Training and Skill Development

Selected youth receive intensive training through the MHR Core Curriculum, developed in consultation with psychologists, educators, and lived-experience youth. The curriculum includes:

Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Peer-to-Peer Support Mechanisms

Youth Mental Health Literacy

Ethical Care and Referral Protocols

Community Dialogue and Stigma Reduction

Optional Modules: Conflict Recovery, Migration, Gender-Based Trauma

Training delivery is flexible (in-person, online, or hybrid) and includes standardized assessments for certification.

4. Certification and Deployment of MHR Leaders

Graduates are awarded Certified MHR Leader status, formally recognized within the global MHR framework. Certification permits them to:

Deliver basic psychosocial interventions

Organize mental health education and outreach

Facilitate peer support and emotional safety networks

Liaise with formal health and protection actors for referrals

Each certified leader receives a starter toolkit and localized guidance package to support their work.

5. Field-Level Implementation and Supervision

Certified MHR Leaders are deployed in their communities with oversight from local MHR Coordinators or institutional partners. Activities include:

Establishing youth-led peer support circles

Conducting school or community mental health workshops

Implementing creative stigma-reduction campaigns

Supporting referrals for individuals at high psychosocial risk

Field activities follow structured implementation plans and reporting templates developed by MHR’s technical team.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Learning

Each implementation site is supported by a results-based M&E framework. Tools and mechanisms include:

Real-time reporting via the MHR Field App

Monthly supervision logs and reflective practice check-ins

Quantitative impact assessments using tools like WHO-5, SRQ-20

Qualitative feedback from participants and community stakeholders

Evaluation results feed into MHR’s global knowledge base, strengthening technical refinement, advocacy, and cross-site learning.

Discover our Projects

Implement the MHR Program

Are you a school, NGO, youth network, or institution interested in bringing the MHR Program to your community?

We invite organizations from around the world to apply to implement the MHR Program locally. Whether you work in education, humanitarian aid, or youth engagement, this program offers a proven model for training young people as certified leaders in mental health support.

You'll receive access to our core curriculum, guidance tools, and integration support — all tailored to your local context.