MSF’s mental health activities can be implemented in a wide variety of contexts:
- emergencies (natural and manmade disasters)
- protracted/chronic-ongoing crisis
- excluded and marginalized populations (survivors of sexual violence, victims of urban violence, minorities, migrants, etc.)
- integration with medical care (HIV/AIDS, TB, haemorrhagic fever, etc.)
Most of the programs consist of both clinical (individual and groups) and community-based component and require an integrated medical-psychological-social approach.
As psychiatrist, your role will be to propose, implement and improve treatment for patients with mental conditions, with strategies and tools adapted to the context and culture.
A substantial part of your work will involve coordination of the different activities, training and supervising local staff who carry out the mental health/psychosocial support activities.
Prerequisites
- Master’s degree in clinical psychology, or equivalent; or experience as a psychiatrist (with required license)
- A minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification experience in clinical care to adults/children OR resident psychiatrists (with at least 6 validated semesters of residency in the field of psychiatry)
- Desirable experience in training/supervision + clinical practise in trauma, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS or any other chronic disease
- Asset: work experience in developing countries or with patients from various cultures
- Commitment to the values of the MSF charter
- Willingness to leave on mission without your partner and/or family and to work in an unstable environment
- Good French and English language skills
Length of mission
- 3 to 12 months
Meet our psychiatrists
Dr Elisabeth Hoffmann discusses the need for mental health services in the Rohinyga camps and the difficulties for women to talk of the psychological trauma they've endured.
Dr. Éric Piel finds his job as MSF psychiatrist rewarding on a professional level. On a personal level, he has learned a lot about humanity and is more capable to put things into perspective.