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Axon Foundation for Research and Development

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Key Details

Organisation Name

Axon Foundation for Research and Development

Location

Nergiz Plaza, 4th Floor – Gulan Street, Erbil, Kurdistan
Iraq

Website

Social

eMHIC Member Status

Research Collaborator

At a Glance

Description

Providing a digital platform for mental health interventions and an online mental health library for Kurdish society.

Implementation Status

Early-stage development

We are in the stage of developing and piloting

Target Population

Mental health professionals

Clinicians

People with mental health problems

People who seek support

Academia

Universities

General population

Anyone interested in mental health

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Initiative Overview

The Current Gap

It addresses a critical gap in accessible, culturally appropriate, and stigma-sensitive mental health support within Kurdish society.

Our Solution

Our initiative is a digital mental health platform designed specifically for Kurdish society, aimed at improving access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services through technology.

Key Features

1

AI Mental Health Chatbot

Kurdish-language AI chatbot providing culturally adapted psychological support and psychoeducation.

2

METRA Online Platform

Delivers digital mental health education, training, awareness, and remote support resources.

3

eMHPSS for Humanitarian Settings

Promotes electronic mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian and low-resource environments.

4

Digital & Remote Care Solutions

Integrates AI and remote technologies to improve access and continuity of mental health care.

5

Research & Capacity Building

Advances culturally adapted digital interventions and strengthens practitioner and humanitarian workforce capabilities.

Collaboration in Action

Main Collaborators

Monash University
Wellcome Trust (donor)

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Key Learnings

Looking Ahead

The next phase of the initiative focuses on scaling up and sustainability by expanding the platform across Iraq and potentially to other Kurdish-speaking regions. We plan to enhance digital interventions by adding specialized modules (e.g., trauma, youth mental health, and GBV) and integrating AI-supported tools such as Kurdish-language chatbots.

The platform will be linked with healthcare providers and NGOs to create a stepped-care referral system. At the same time, we will establish a sustainable model through partnerships, funding, and potential premium services, while conducting ongoing research and evaluation to ensure effectiveness and support policy advocacy for integrating digital mental health into national systems.
Yes, we actively seek collaborations to strengthen and scale the initiative. We welcome partnerships with academic institutions for research and evaluation, NGOs and humanitarian organizations for implementation and outreach, and government bodies to support integration into national health systems.

We are also open to working with technology partners to enhance the platform (e.g., AI tools, app development) and with donors and international agencies for funding and capacity building. These collaborations will help expand impact, ensure sustainability, and improve the quality and reach of digital mental health services.
The next steps for the initiative focus on expanding its reach, strengthening its impact, and ensuring long-term sustainability. We aim to scale the platform across Iraq and to other Kurdish-speaking communities, while continuously improving digital interventions with more specialized, culturally adapted content.

A key priority is integrating the platform within health and humanitarian systems to support a stepped-care model. We also plan to generate strong research evidence, build capacity among practitioners, and establish sustainable partnerships and funding mechanisms. Ultimately, the aspiration is to position the initiative as a leading, evidence-based digital mental health model for conflict-affected and low-resource settings.
eMHIC Directory_Key Contacts (4)

Key Contact

Darya Ahmed
Director
Axon Foundation For Research And Development

Email

[email protected]

Website

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