A Small Light for the Road: The Lived Experience of MHPSS Trainers in Northern Iraq

This purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) trainers of lay workers and paraprofessionals in Northern Iraq. One central research question, followed by three subquestions, was used to frame this study: What are the lived experiences of MHPSS trainers for lay workers and paraprofessionals in Northern Iraq? How do participants describe the challenges they faced providing training to lay workers and paraprofessionals in Northern Iraq? How do participants describe their students’ greatest needs? How do participants describe the tools, trainings, and techniques they identify as helpful? The wicked problem theoretical concept was used to examine the findings, as it provided a framework for understanding the experiences of each participant in dealing with a highly complex social problem. Data revealed three primary themes that were each divided into two subthemes. The first primary theme, lived experience with conflict, was divided into the following subthemes: conflict among stakeholders and conflict between cultures. The second primary theme, lived experience with complexity, encompassed two subthemes: complex need and complex roots. The final primary theme, lived experience with uncertainty, was divided into two subthemes: short-term uncertainty and long-term uncertainty. These themes have practical, theoretical, and empirical implications, as they can contribute to the work of researchers and field practitioners who support the mental health needs of communities after a crisis.