Background & Rationale
Student mental health in Morocco is increasingly recognized as a critical issue, yet current responses remain fragmented, reactive, and primarily centered on individual diagnosis rather than systemic transformation. Schools often serve as the first point of contact for students experiencing psychological distress, but they operate within structural constraints — limited institutional capacity, insufficient training, and weak coordination with health and social systems.
At the same time, global conversations — particularly in the United States — are evolving toward whole-system approaches that integrate mental health into education policy, school environments, and broader community ecosystems.
How can Morocco transition from a diagnostic model of student mental health to a preventive, system-oriented, and integrated approach?
Objective
To convene a multidisciplinary group of experts across psychology, education, and public policy in order to:
Critically assess current approaches to student mental health in Moroccan schools
Identify structural gaps across institutions and sectors
Explore pathways toward scalable, system-level solutions
Bridge Moroccan realities with international frameworks and experiences
Participants
Faycal El. Iraqi
Convener & Moderator
Founder, ImpactForge Consulting
Founder of ImpactForge, working on systems change and building bridges across the Atlantic between Morocco and the U.S. in education, policy, and social impact.
Dr. Abdelkarim Belhaj
Professor of Psychology
Director of the Higher Institute of Psychology
Senior academic and practitioner in psychology, contributing to mental health education and institutional development in Morocco.
Pr Abdelaziz Snihji
Professor of Sociology of Guidance and Professional Integration
Education Systems & Strategic Planning
Specialist in education systems and strategic planning, with experience in policy design and reform.
Dr. Oumaima Achor
Professor, Public Policy
Governance & Social Sector Reform
Expert in governance and public policy, focusing on institutional systems and social sector reform.
John Kania
Senior Advisor, FSG
Co-creator, Collective Impact Framework
Globally recognized leader in social impact, advising on large-scale systems change and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr. Evangeline Harris
Clinical Professor, Northeastern
School Psychologist, Therapy Travelers
Academic and practitioner contributing an international perspective on mental health and education systems.
Dr. Ivonne Borrero
Head of School Psychologists
Boston Public Schools
Leads school-based psychological services within a major U.S. urban school system, integrating mental health support into education.
Rkia Salnave
President, NASA
North Africa Student Association, Northeastern University
Practitioner with Moroccan school system background, bringing a cross-cultural perspective on student experience and community engagement.
Fatima El Maghnaoui
Pedagogical Advisor
Former Regional Coordinating Inspector, AREF Rabat
Women's rights activist and President of the Najda Center for Women Victims of Violence in Rabat.
Key Discussion Pillars
From Diagnosis to System Design
Are current approaches overly centered on individual diagnosis rather than prevention and systemic support? What would a school-based mental health model look like in the Moroccan context?
Institutional Capacity
What role can Moroccan schools realistically play in supporting student mental health? How can teachers, administrators, and school staff be equipped without placing unrealistic burdens on them?
Policy & Governance
Where are the critical policy and institutional gaps? How can coordination between education, health, social services, universities, and civil society be strengthened?
Global Learning & Local Adaptation
What lessons can be drawn from U.S. and international models of school psychology and student support? What should Morocco adapt, and what should it avoid?
Building a Healing School System
How can Morocco move from fragmented responses to an integrated system that connects early identification, school-based support, family engagement, referral pathways, and continuous follow-up?
Expected Outcomes
A synthesis of key insights and strategic directions
Identification of priority areas for institutional and policy reform
Strengthened cross-sector dialogue between research, policy, and practice
Foundations for future collaboration and system-level initiatives
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CounselorEmbassy of Morocco
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