AITOR MARTINEZ

I am a dynamic mental health and psychosocial specialist with extensive experience in providing and supervising Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS), particularly in high-risk environments and with vulnerable communities. My expertise is grounded in trauma-informed care, risk management, and capacity building, aimed at enhancing psychosocial safety. I am passionate about leveraging my skills in the international development field, particularly within the journalism sector, to safeguard the mental health and security of at-risk individuals and organizations, while empowering professionals through training and mentorship.

MHPSS Social Worker, ACCEM, Jun 2024 – Present, Madrid, Spain. 

• Lead coordination of the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) network for refugees and asylum seekers in Madrid, providing emergency psychosocial support and technical support in designing and implementing mental health interventions.
• Strengthen partnerships with local education and health sectors to ensure comprehensive support for refugees, enhancing educational and health outcomes.
• Provide capacity-building training and technical assistance to frontline health workers on psychosocial safety and risk management for vulnerable groups, particularly focusing on refugees.

Mental Health Practitioner, NHS Camden & Islington Trust, 2022 – 2024, London, UK.

• Conducted comprehensive mental health assessments and provided tailored MHPSS interventions for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, incorporating psychosocial risk assessments into care planning to ensure client safety.
• Implemented trauma-informed practices in all interactions, enhancing client safety and reducing re-traumatization risks.
• Coordinated care across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring integration of mental health services with protection services and safeguarding measures.

Clinical Consultant, Aktion Health, 2022 – 2023 (Part-time), NYC, USA.

• Supported the scale-up of a school-based MHPSS intervention program in New York City, focusing on safety and well-being for vulnerable student populations exposed to trauma.
• Delivered training and capacity-building sessions for UNFPA workers in Myanmar on mental health interventions, ensuring alignment with UN goals of improving health through education while incorporating safety management strategies for frontline workers.
• Facilitated cross-sector partnerships between health and education providers, integrating mental health education and risk management strategies to support vulnerable students. 

Health Coordinator, St. Mungo’s, 2019 – 2021, London, UK.

• Managed health and mental health service provision for rough sleepers, focusing on safeguarding and protection for individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges.
• Led efforts to integrate health education into community-based services, focusing on emergency mental health and safety interventions for rough sleepes and other vulnerable groups.
• Oversaw the monitoring and evaluation of outreach programs, ensuring that health education initiatives met the required standards and produced measurable results.

Advocacy Officer, South East Fermanagh Foundation, 2018 – 2019, London, UK.

• Managed and coordinated the Great Britain branch of the organization.
• Coordinated advocacy services for victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles, focusing on their protection needs and supporting their access to justice, acknowledgement, and truth.
• Advocated for policy reforms in both the health and education sectors to address the unique needs of survivors, using data and evidence to support policy recommendations.

Croydon Youth Outreach Project Coordinator, Victim Support, 2017 – 2018, London, UK.

• Led youth outreach programs that focused on preventative health education, including topics such as sexual health, domestic violence, and online safety.
• Designed and implemented school-based workshops aimed at increasing young people's understanding of health and safety, ensuring alignment with UN´s health education goals.
• Worked closely with local schools and community organizations to develop health education materials that incorporated safety planning and stress management strategies. 

Social Worker, Caritas Spain, 2010 – 2013, San Sebastian, Spain.

• Conducted community social interventions with a community of 120 Romanian/Romani homeless individuals, ensuring their psychosocial safety through comprehensive risk assessments.
• Supported children in accessing education and assisted women in receiving obstetric and gynaecological care, incorporating safety and protection measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals in the community.

MSc in Global Mental Health, King’s College London & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2021-2022

• Dissertation: "Essential Ingredients for Capacity-Building Implementation in the Scale-Up of MHPSS in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review."

B.A. Hons. Criminology, 1st Class, University of the Basque Country (UPV), Spain, 2012-2016

• Dissertation with Honours: "Spiritual Betrayal: Sexual Victimization of Children within the Catholic Church."
• Erasmus+ exchange at KU Leuven, Belgium.

B.A. Hons. Social Work, 2:1, University of Deusto, Spain, 2007-2011

• Dissertation on Social Determinants of Homeless Populations' Mental Health.