About us

The Africa Psychosocial Support Institute (APSSI) is a subsidiary of REPSSI. APSSI fosters professionalism and excellence in Mental Health and Psychosocial care and support (MHPSS) services by offering innovative, quality psychosocial support (PSS) education, research, programming resources and technical guidance.

The institute was initiated in 2016 as part of a broader response to the need for a standardised PSS definition, quality research and data on PSS, formalised PSS capacity development, excellent PSS resources and MHPSS thought leadership.

PURPOSE

  1. Advocate for the role of Mental health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in sustainable development.
  2. Develop and disseminate MHPSS knowledge.
  3. Support MHPSS capacity development.
  4. Promote excellence in MHPSS.

VISION

A globally recognised hub for Afrocentric mental health and psychosocial support solutions.

MISSION

Advancing professionalism and excellence in Afrocentric knowledge, practice and policy for mental health and psychosocial support through:

  • delivering quality, accredited PSS education
  • developing contextual PSS knowledge
  • publishing evidence-informed culture-responsive resources 

VALUES

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INTEGRITY

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PROFESSIONALISM

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RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

EXCELLENCE

INNOVATION

Business Delivery Channels

APSSI is a quasi-academic entity which creates social value through 2 main business delivery channels:

  1. Delivering quality Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Education and
  2. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Consultancy Services and Product Sales.

Through its two business channels, the Institute:

  • Develops, manages and delivers reputable PSS education –It develops and delivers formal MHPSS qualifications and professional development courses, through a variety of delivery methodologies, with strategic partners. APSSI expands its reach through negotiating and issuing delivery licenses for APSSI academic  programmes. All graduates of APSSI-licensed programmes are alumni of APSSI. APSSI aims that APSSI-developed, managed and/or endorsed MHPSS academic programmes are the MHPSS programmes of choice for students, governments and Academe, especially in Africa, and that APSSI alumni are the MHPSS employees of choice.
  • Develops, updates, endorses and manages quality MHPSS resources – APSSI provides MHPSS resource development services paying clients and within the context of research grants. APSSI MHPSS resource development services include writing, peer reviewing, assessing for APSSI endorsement, revising outdated editions, translations and contextual adaptations. (Resources means training manuals, documented intervention guides, programming guidelines, study guides, audio-visual aids, games, video presentations, etc.) 
  • Facilitates access to MHPSS research – In partnership with other research entities and innovation partners, APSSI provides a range of MHPSS research services. These services are predominantly realised through the pursuit of research grants. However, APSSI aims to strategically and systematically expand African MHPSS practice evidence and innovation through supporting and influencing scholarship. Further to that, APSSI provides consultancy services for peer review of MHPSS research components (ToR, study design, data collection tools, etc.), assessments and quick polls & surveys.

 

  • Tailormade MHPSS capacity solutions – APSSI advertises and markets training on its MHPSS resources. It also provides training on global, multi-agency endorsed MHPSS resources such as Psychological First Aid, MhGAP and Problem Management Plus (PM+). Most distinctively, APSSI develops, delivers and quality assures MHPSS competence and skills building training models; both generic and sector specific. APSSI is context-responsive and its capacity building service package includes a simple context assessment, tailor-made training design, training delivery, constant quality monitoring, mentorship and client satisfaction assessments. Clients may choose all or part of the components of the package.
  • MHPSS Thought Leadership – As an African MHPSS Institute, APSSI focuses on advancing scholarship in MHPSS research & development, publishing and innovation in MHPSS training and intervention design. APSSI is establishing and facilitating a dynamic community of specialist expertise and interest whose ideas will be solicited through structured activities such as research awards, symposia and open journal compilations. APSSI aims to strengthen its brand equity and identity as an Afrocentric MHPSS Thought Leader.

 

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