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Working with students in vulnerable contexts often means navigating complex emotional and psychological challenges. 

At GetTogether #10, held on March 19, 2025, school staff across ASSET-H&C’s member network, IECD’s practitioners gathered for an insightful exchange on mental health support for students, drawing on the experience of Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE), Cambodia. 

The session welcomed Ms. Sreypov Thoun, Manager of the Psychology Department at PSE, who shared lessons learned from more than a decade of work with at-risk youth. 

Early Intervention & Multistakeholder Collaboration 

Ms. Thoun opened the session by highlighting the importance of early detection and psychological first aid. At PSE, the psychology team works closely with teachers, social workers, and school management to identify students showing signs of distress. 

“When we understand students’ situations in a timely manner, we can help them succeed academically and emotionally,” Ms. Thoun explained.

One of the key pillars of PSE’s mental health strategy is its collaborative model, which connects internal and external stakeholders to form a comprehensive safety net around each student. 

Internal Collaboration: 

• • • Weekly or monthly meetings are held with student affairs officers to review student cases, monitor developments, and adjust support plans. 
    • Training and awareness sessions are provided for teachers to help them understand mental health and effectively observe students’ emotional and behavioral changes. 
    • A structured referral process ensures that students needing support are systematically directed to the counseling team for timely intervention.
      

External Collaboration: 

• • • Collaboration with public hospitals ensures access to specialized treatment when needed. 

• • • Referrals are made to mental health-focused NGOs and support organizations, particularly in cases involving trauma or psychiatric care. 

• • • Students are also connected to external helplines or hotlines, providing round-the-clock support in times of crisis. 

This external network plays a critical role in relieving schools from carrying the full burden of care alone. It allows school staff to focus on what they do best—teaching and mentoring—while ensuring that students with more serious needs receive expert intervention. It also helps schools build long-term partnerships with health and community services, which can be activated quickly in urgent cases. Additionally, these partnerships can help schools with limited resources ensure effective support to their students. 

Structured Support Through Technical Services 

The presentation also detailed the technical services offered by PSE’s psychology team, including one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and family interventions. Ms. Thoun explained how each service is designed based on the specific context and severity of the student’s challenges. 

• • One-on-one therapy, using cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused techniques. 

• • Family interventions, which aim to improve communication and support structures at home. 

• • Group sessions, particularly for students facing shared challenges, such as grief, anxiety, or social withdrawal. 

Crucially, these services aim not only to treat issues but to build students’ coping capacity so they can thrive both at school and within their communities. Throughout the process, maintaining confidentiality and building trust with students remain top priorities. 

Ms. Thoun shared the story of a PSE student who had withdrawn from school life and academics. Initially believed to be a behavioral case, the issue was later revealed to be psychological trauma rooted in a family situation. With structured counseling and coordinated support, the student recovered, re-engaged in learning, and began planning for his future. 

Another member school also shared a particularly sensitive case of unintended pregnancy and relationship difficulties in one student. Initially unwilling to confide in family or staff, the student eventually opened up after multiple interventions, including a health check and outreach to her boyfriend. She later returned home for support. The breakthrough came through patient trust-building, which helped her feel safe enough to speak. 

Practical Insights and Challenges 

Throughout the session, Ms. Thoun also addressed some of the common challenges faced by school staff: 

• • Busy Schedules – It is hard to find a time that fits a student’s schedule. 

• • Fear of Counselling – Some students feel nervous or afraid to talk to a counselor. 

• • No Support System – Some students do not have family or friends to help them. 

• • Behavior problem & Drug Use – Some students misbehave or use drugs, making it harder to help them. 

• • Professional Boundaries – There are limits to what we can do while helping students. 

Participants discussed questions about the student recruitment process and the limited presence of mental health professionals in schools. In response, it was shared that at PSE, student selection is handled by the social work team, while educators receive basic counseling and positive parenting sessions, along with training from mental health organizations on screening and assessment to help identify students in need. 

Engaged in a lively discussion, participants not only shared their own experiences but also learned from one another’s good practices to adapt these practices to different country and school contexts including: 

• • Build trust first—mental health support cannot be imposed. 

• • Empower teachers and trainers to be the first line of emotional support. 

• • Coordinate across departments to avoid duplication or gaps in care. 

• • Don’t wait for a crisis—prevention is more effective than correction. 

 (Feature photo by PSE – Pour un Sourire d’Enfant – Cambodia)

The GetTogether series is an initiative by ASSET-H&C to foster peer learning and exchange among its members. It creates spaces where school staff can share experiences, challenges, and innovative practices across borders 

Join the Movement: 

If this recap sparks your interest, or if you seek to integrate similar practices in your institution, don’t hesitate to reach out or join our future Get Togethers. Together, we can achieve more and pave the way for a sustainable future. 

Contact for further details or resources: Ha Phan (ASSET H&C Project Manager): ha.phan@iecd.org 

Alone, we go faster. Together, we go further!”