In collaboration with International Medical Corps, Pakistan
Overview
This training package was conducted as part of the MHPSS (Mental health & Psychosocial) response in Bannu for the IDPs from North Waziristan. The curriculum is designed for 6 priority disorders including Stress related disorders, Depression, Psychosis, Children & Adolescents Disorders (with particular emphasis on Learning Disability), Epilepsy & Drug dependence. These disorders were identified as the most commonly presenting disorders to the specialist mental health camps held every month in Bannu to strengthen the existing mental health services.
The contents of the training were based on mhGAP training guidelines prepared by the World Health Organization. The objectives of this training are to enable primary care physicians (and other staff), to recognize and manage common mental disorders in the community and refer cases to specialist services when needed. The training manual is suitable for training primary care physicians in humanitarian crisis or otherwise, anywhere in the country.
Three trainers were selected from the team attending the monthly camp (based on their interest, experience, qualification and personal attributes). Informal discussions about training processes started at least two months in advance of the formal training session. During this time, the trainers were very much part of preparing the curriculum and drafting the training modules. A final training of trainers (ToT) workshop was held at Islamabad on 18th October 2014. Two senior mental health professionals were invited as facilitators. The trainers made formal presentations and the facilitators provided detailed feedback.
Dr Ambreen Ahmad, Child Psychiatrist, Islamabad
Dr Israr ul Haq, Consultant Psychiatrist, Islamabad
Dr Faisal Rashid, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Isra University, Islamabad
A total of 58 primary care staff were trained during the following training sessions, conducted at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital, Bannu:
1. 14th-15th November 2014
2. 12th-13th December
3. 9th-10th January 2015
Note: In view of high security risks, it was very difficult to arrange these trainings and ensure participation. Despite best efforts, this was the maximum period of training possible over 2 days.
This training manual was prepared over a period of four months as part of the MHPSS (Mental health & Psychosocial) response in Bannu for the IDPs from North Waziristan. The curriculum is designed for six priority disorders including Stress related disorders, Depression, Psychosis, Children & Adolescent disorders(with particular emphasis on Learning Disability) , Epilepsy & Drug dependence. These disorders were identified as the most commonly presenting disorders to the specialist mental health camps held every month in Bannu to strengthen the existing mental health services. The contents are based on mhGAP training guidelines prepared by the World Health Organization. The objectives of this training are to enable primary care physicians (and other staff), to recognize and manage common mental disorders in the community and refer cases to specialist services when needed. It is suitable for training primary care physicians in humanitarian crisis or otherwise, anywhere in the country.
1st November 2014
Curriculum
