Mental Health Program Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Training Course

Introduction
Mental health programs operate in complex environments where accountability, effectiveness, and learning are essential for sustained impact. This training course provides a comprehensive foundation for monitoring, evaluating, and learning from mental health interventions to ensure they deliver meaningful and measurable improvements in wellbeing.
The course responds to the growing demand from donors, governments, and communities for evidence-based mental health programming. Participants will explore how Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems can be designed to capture both clinical outcomes and broader psychosocial change across diverse contexts.
Participants will gain practical skills in developing indicators, data collection tools, and evaluation frameworks tailored to mental health and psychosocial support programs. Emphasis is placed on ethical data practices, cultural sensitivity, and safeguarding when working with vulnerable populations.
Recognizing that learning is central to program improvement, the course integrates adaptive management and learning-focused evaluation approaches. Participants will learn how to use MEL findings to refine interventions, improve service quality, and strengthen accountability to affected populations.
The training also addresses the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods, including participatory evaluation and outcome measurement tools. Learners will explore how mixed-methods approaches can generate deeper insights into program effectiveness, equity, and sustainability.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to design and manage robust MEL systems that support strategic decision-making in mental health programs. The course empowers professionals to translate data into learning, improve program performance, and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.

Who Should Attend

• Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program managers
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning officers
• NGO and humanitarian project managers
• Public health and mental health professionals
• Donor-funded project coordinators
• Research and data management staff
• Government health and social services officers
• Program quality assurance specialists
• Academics and applied mental health researchers
• Consultants supporting mental health programs

Course Objectives

• Strengthen understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning concepts within mental health and psychosocial support programs.
• Equip participants with skills to design MEL frameworks tailored to mental health program objectives and contexts.
• Enhance capacity to develop meaningful indicators that capture both mental health outcomes and psychosocial change.
• Build skills in selecting ethical and culturally appropriate data collection methods for vulnerable populations.
• Improve participant ability to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods in mental health program evaluation.
• Strengthen competencies in managing mental health program data for accuracy, confidentiality, and quality assurance.
• Develop participant skills to analyze MEL data and generate actionable insights for program improvement.
• Enhance understanding of learning-focused evaluation and adaptive management approaches.
• Build capacity to report mental health program results to donors, governments, and communities effectively.
• Strengthen knowledge of accountability and safeguarding principles in mental health MEL systems.
• Improve participant ability to design evaluations that inform sustainability and scale-up decisions.
• Enable participants to institutionalize MEL systems that support continuous learning and evidence-based decision-making.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to MEL in Mental Health Programs

• Role of MEL in mental health and MHPSS.
• Accountability, learning, and improvement.
• Global standards and frameworks.
• Ethical foundations of MEL practice.

Module 2: Mental Health Program Theory of Change

• Developing theories of change for MHPSS.
• Linking activities to outcomes and impact.
• Assumptions and contextual factors.
• Using theory of change for evaluation.

Module 3: Indicator Development and Results Frameworks

• Output, outcome, and impact indicators.
• Measuring mental health and wellbeing.
• Psychosocial outcome measurement tools.
• Indicator quality and relevance.

Module 4: Data Collection Methods

• Quantitative tools and surveys.
• Qualitative methods and interviews.
• Participatory data collection approaches.
• Digital and mobile data collection.

Module 5: Ethical Data Collection and Safeguarding

• Informed consent and confidentiality.
• Managing sensitive mental health data.
• Safeguarding vulnerable populations.
• Do no harm principles in MEL.

Module 6: Baseline, Midline, and Endline Evaluations

• Designing baseline studies.
• Tracking progress over time.
• Endline evaluation methodologies.
• Comparative analysis and learning.

Module 7: Data Quality Assurance

• Data verification and validation.
• Quality control systems.
• Addressing bias and data errors.
• Continuous data quality improvement.

Module 8: Qualitative Evaluation in Mental Health

• Outcome harvesting techniques.
• Most significant change method.
• Narrative and case study analysis.
• Interpreting qualitative findings.

Module 9: Quantitative Analysis and Outcome Measurement

• Statistical analysis for mental health data.
• Interpreting scale-based assessments.
• Measuring change and effect size.
• Visualization of results.

Module 10: Learning and Adaptive Management

• Learning agendas and feedback loops.
• Using data for program adaptation.
• Reflection and learning workshops.
• Knowledge management strategies.

Module 11: Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

• Engaging beneficiaries in MEL.
• Community feedback mechanisms.
• Accountability to affected populations.
• Inclusive evaluation practices.

Module 12: Evaluation Designs and Approaches

• Process, outcome, and impact evaluations.
• Formative and summative evaluations.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental designs.
• Contribution analysis in mental health.

Module 13: Reporting and Communication of Findings

• Donor reporting requirements.
• Visualization and dashboards.
• Communicating findings to communities.
• Learning-oriented reporting.

Module 14: MEL in Humanitarian and Crisis Contexts

• Rapid assessments and real-time MEL.
• Adaptive MEL in emergencies.
• Ethical challenges in crisis settings.
• Coordination across agencies.

Module 15: Sustainability and Scaling Evidence

• Using MEL to inform scale-up.
• Evidence-based decision-making.
• Cost-effectiveness considerations.
• Long-term program sustainability.

Module 16: Emerging Trends and Innovation in MEL

• Digital MEL systems and AI tools.
• Real-time data and dashboards.
• Integrating research and MEL.
• Future directions in mental health evaluation.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, guided tour and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.