Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit (NPU)
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka
Community-based Mental Health Project for Children and Young people

Call for proposals to conduct the study on the effectiveness of community mental health approaches.

Introduction: Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit (NPU), a research and service wing of the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Dhaka, has been implementing a community-based mental health project since June 2020 under the leadership of ADD International Bangladesh, with the other two consortium members, the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation (IWF) and the Disabled Child Foundation (DCF). 

The Community-Based Mental Health Project: The project is intended to strengthen the mental health literacy of parents and carers, local organisations, government representatives, health service providers, students, and teachers. It has targeted systemic and attitudinal change, family and community engagement, and service provider capacity. It hopes to contribute to the development of a quality and inclusive community-based mental health support system to improve the mental health and wellbeing of underserved children and young people, particularly girls, young women, and those with other disabilities.

The community approach: The project is being implemented in marginalised communities through some unique approaches and activities to reduce the stigma and change the health-seeking behaviour of community members, as well as provide services to 5,500 children and youth with mental health and psychosocial issues, including at-risk populations. This community mental health approach is basically a combination of four key segments: (i) identify key gaps; (ii) reduce stigma and discrimination; (iii) improve access to mental health; and (iv) respect social and human rights. The community-based mental health programme stands on the following four major pillars:

  • Frontline worker base integration process.
  • Educational institution-centric prevention system
  • Local-level mental health first aiders and MH promoters
  • Mental health service system improvement process

About the study: The main objective of this study is to see how major approaches effectively contributed to the project and to determine the success or failure of the approaches based on the criteria, as well as to validate them as model practices.

Who can apply: Any individual researcher or group of researchers or institutions with a mental health and psychosocial background and a professional track record and experience conducting similar types of research or studies can apply for this task. For a detailed TOR, please click on this link.

Click here to download ToR

How to submit a proposal: An EOI with a brief technical proposal and a budget outline (financial proposal) to carry out the study, including any other documents (CVs, TIN, registration certificates (in the case of organisations), VAT/Tax, samples of one or two similar works or reports, any certification from previous works, etc.), should be addressed and submitted to:

Project Coordinator 
Community Based Mental Health Project
Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit (NPU)
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka

Electronic submissions are also welcome at  kanizf22@gmail.com

Application Deadline:  21 April 2024. Please apply soon and don’t wait for the last date.