The "Clinical High Risk Program" (CHiRP) was created in 2018 by a group of young adult psychiatrists and child psychiatrists from Razi Hospital and Mongi Slim Hospital, in collaboration with Dr. J. Ventura from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The mission of this group was to establish a collaborative research and clinical network for the prevention of severe mental illnesses in Tunisia.

Severe mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders) generally begin during adolescence, evolve over time, and can have a severe impact on social and daily functioning and quality of life. Their onset is often preceded by a prodromal phase. The early detection and treatment of these conditions can improve the prognosis and the long term outcome. International studies have shown that early and appropriate care for at-risk youth can prevent or at least mitigate the further development of these disorders into more serious conditions.

The mission of CHiRP is in line with this approach and pursues three objectives: screening, care, and research on individuals at possible risk of developing a severe mental illness, as well as public awareness of the signs of possible mental illness.