The mental health system in Iraq needs further support and capacity building to better meet the psychosocial needs of Iraqis. The Iraq Ministry of health considered mental health as one of the core priorities of its 2009‒2011strategy. 
The guidelines aim to create a minimum-standards framework for the human resources recruited to lead MHPSS projects in Iraq. It also helps to plan the needed training so that field teams can provide the best level of care to individuals and communities in need.