Our Approaches

We deliver mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) by strengthening local systems of care already present in families, peers, faith groups, and communities. By building on these existing structures, we reduce stigma, widen access, and foster resilience from the ground up.

Localization: Our CBPS programs prioritize training and supporting local community workers, volunteers, and faith leaders, ensuring interventions are culturally appropriate, contextually relevant, and locally led.

HDP Nexus: Our CBPS approach spans the HDP spectrum: providing immediate psychosocial support in humanitarian crises, strengthening long-term coping mechanisms in development contexts, and fostering reconciliation and social cohesion in peacebuilding efforts.

Drawing inspiration from the Citizen Participation Ladder, CIVITAS avoids superficial forms of involvement such as information sharing or one-off consultations. Instead, we emphasize higher rungs of the ladder partnership, delegated power, and citizen control. Communities are empowered to shape priorities, co-design interventions, and influence resources and accountability systems.

We treat communities as knowledge producers. We use participatory and citizen science methods that allow people to define their realities, shape interventions, and evaluate what works. This ensures relevance, ownership, and sustainability. Drawing on core participatory philosophies, we emphasize the principles of inclusivity, equity, and collaborative governance, recognizing that meaningful change emerges when all voices especially those historically marginalized are centered in decision-making. Co-creation is not just about consultation; it is about fostering genuine partnerships where community members actively contribute to problem identification, solution design, and monitoring of outcomes. By combining these approaches, we promote a culture of mutual accountability, learning, and empowerment, where communities are not only beneficiaries but co-architects of interventions that shape their own futures.

Our approach intentionally links Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) with other critical sectors such as livelihoods, education, peacebuilding, and environmental sustainability. We recognize that mental health does not exist in isolation individual and community wellbeing is shaped by economic stability, access to education, social cohesion, and a safe, sustainable environment. By bridging these sectors, we ensure that MHPSS interventions are embedded within a holistic framework that addresses the root causes of distress and vulnerability.

For example, livelihood programs can reduce stress associated with poverty and displacement, while education initiatives promote psychosocial development and resilience among children and youth. Peacebuilding activities foster reconciliation and social cohesion, mitigating conflict-related trauma. Environmental sustainability projects support community resilience by safeguarding resources that communities depend on, which in turn has positive psychosocial impacts.

This integrated, multi-sectoral approach ensures that mental health is not treated as a standalone issue but is recognized as a core component of the broader ecosystem of community wellbeing. By connecting services and initiatives across sectors, we create synergies that strengthen overall community resilience, promote social cohesion, and support sustainable recovery and development.

We go beyond addressing immediate symptoms to confront the underlying drivers of distress, including poverty, social exclusion, gender-based violence, and displacement. Our approach combines protection, advocacy, and access to justice, ensuring that individuals and communities can claim their rights, live safely, and participate meaningfully in society. By tackling systemic inequalities alongside individual needs, we promote not only healing but also empowerment, resilience, and social cohesion. Our work fosters environments where dignity, equity, and human rights are upheld, enabling people to thrive rather than merely survive.

Through co-creation, CIVITAS nurtures collective agency and civic engagement. Communities are equipped with knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate for their rights, influence policies, and mobilize local resources to sustain progress.