Psychiatrists play a critical role in MSF’s projects, integrating mental health treatment with basic healthcare services to ensure comprehensive care for patients with severe and common psychiatric disorders.
From treating patients in culturally diverse settings, to training and supervising medical staff, MSF psychiatrists are integral to the provision of quality mental healthcare in our programmes.
This is a dynamic and impactful role in support of our humanitarian and medical responses, involving some or all of the following:
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with MSF medical staff to integrate psychiatric treatment with basic healthcare services.
- Treat patients with severe and common psychiatric disorders, considering the cultural context.
- Provide training and supervision to medical staff on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders according to MSF guidelines.
- Works with the mental health team, offering supervision and support to psychologists and counsellors.
- Ensure availability of guidelines and psychotropic medications from the MSF standard drug list in the project.
- Collect and monitor information on treatment and follow-up to ensure provision of proper care.
- Evaluate available in-country psychiatric services, including options for psychiatric admission and their quality.
- Build relationships with the Ministry of Health and explore the sustainability of psychiatric treatment.
Establish collaboration and communication with medical specialties within the project to achieve a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
Depending on our activities and needs, your responsibilities may be adapted and evolve according to the specificities of projects.
You will not be facing these challenges alone—other MSF team members, both international and locally hired staff, will provide technical support, including extensive guidelines and protocols.
Hear from an MSF psychiatrist
With a community-based approach, you can get out and treat people and really improve their quality of lifeGreg Keane, MSF psychiatrist and mental health adviser
Requirements:
- Medical Doctor degree with specialised training in psychiatry.
- Essential experience working as a psychiatrist.
- Experience in training and supervision.
- Proficiency in English and the project working language (French, Arabic or Spanish).
Assets:
- Computer literacy.
- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
- Strong communication and organisational skills.
- Competencies in results orientation, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, and stress management.
