Years of war, the oppression of poverty, and pressures of society and culture are factors contributing to the high rate of mental health difficulties in the country. This project makes a difference in peoples’ lives through training different sectors of society to recognize and deal with common mental health problems.
The local community is the first point of contact. Village leaders and local teachers are trained to recognize common mental health problems, and either respond to them appropriately in the community or refer them to appropriate health personnel.
Health workers in various organizations and government institutions are also being trained to recognize and deal appropriately with mental health problems. Nurses, community health workers and traditional birth attendants are targeted for training, as they often have close contact with the community and its problems and may be the first to identify them.
Finally, doctors and medical students are being trained in mental health issues, treatment and counseling skills. A new mental health clinic is being built in Herat to facilitate mental health treatment, and the training of medical personnel. |
