Lebanon is facing a difficult economic and social situation which has taken a significant toll on the psychological wellbeing of many.  One of them is Jana, a middle-aged woman, who lives alone in a small village and suffers from social anxiety and depression. Jana receives support from a close friend for her basic expenses and therapy sessions, but due to rising transportation costs, she hasn’t been able to attend her sessions regularly. Jana’s therapist proposed Step-by-Step, a digital mental health intervention created and coordinated by our partner, the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Lebanon Ministry of Health.

SbS is a five-session illustrated narrative designed to treat depression that provides psychoeducation and behavioral activation. Free and confidential, it is guided by a non-specialist helper trained in providing technical and emotional support through weekly phone calls or messages.

Jana immediately identified with the animated character used in the intervention, whose experience of depression was very similar to her own. During one of the first program sessions, she wrote down a list of the things she felt grateful for. This exercise helped her shift her focus away from negative circumstances and appreciate the positive aspects of her life, such as good neighbors and close friends. Jana also realized how depression kept her from doing activities she normally enjoyed, making her feel even worse and creating a viscious cycle.

This awareness and the support of the SBS helper encouraged Jana to gradually change her behavior. For example, rather than staying home alone when she felt sad, Jana planned an activity and broke it into smaller steps, like a short walk while listening to music. Breathing exercises also aided in calming her social anxiety, while psychoeducation helped Jana face life’s ups and downs, providing her with coping mechanisms to get through difficult circumstances and prevent relapse.

Thanks to the valuable support of her helper and the Step-by-Step journey, Jana has greatly increased her self-awareness and understands that her mental health condition does not define her as a person – she too can live a fulfilled life.