Application of a needs-driven, competencies-based mental health training program to a post-disaster situation: the Grenada experience.
This report outlines an innovative approach to address post-natural disaster mental health needs in a region in which natural disasters are common---the Caribbean. Instead of traditional external vertical psychosocial interventions commonly used in this region, the authors developed and implemented a mental health interventions training program, in the island country of Grenada, which is focused on enhancing the capacity of local community-based health service providers to provide immediate and continued mental healthcare following a natural disaster. Soon after this training, a hurricane stuck the island of Grenada. A review of the self-confidence in the application of this training and the mental health intervention activities of these community health providers demonstrated that they felt able to effectively identify, intervene, and address post-disaster mental health needs within their communities and that their care of individuals affected continued beyond the immediate post-disaster period, suggesting that enhancing the capacity of local community-based health providers to deal with post-natural disaster mental health needs may be a useful model that may be applicable in other jurisdictions.
Kutcher
Stan
S
Department of Psychiatry, WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center in Mental Health Training and Policy Development, Dalhousie University, AJLB H Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Chehil
Sonia
S
D017691:Caribbean Region; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D019425:Grenada; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D000078329:Workforce