BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Children and Families Advanced Training” concludes today, Friday, 26th September.
The week-long training, conducted at the UN Joint Presence Office Conference Room, ANZ Building at Ranadi in Honiara, is designed to equip provincial mental health workers with necessary skills to effectively address mental health challenges.
Hellen Kwai, representing the Mental Health, Acute Clinic at the National Referral Hospital, in an interview with Island Sun, shares her experience about the training.
Speaking about Thursday, the fourth day of the training, she said the training was about child development.
Kwai also said the training is crucial as it enables them to engage with patients
“Additionally, it is vital for me to assist communities by sharing what I have learned during the training,” she said.
One of the topics that stood out to her from the training is “trauma”, in particular, on how children can become traumatised at home due to violence between their parents.
“When a child experiences trauma, the recovery process can be lengthy, while some may recover more quickly. Typically, it takes about six months to heal from trauma; however, this duration can differ between children and adults. As a mental health nurse, I plan to return to my community to raise awareness in churches and schools regarding what both parents and children need to understand,” Kwai said.
She added that stigma currently poses a considerable challenge for individuals on the streets.
“But we must not stigmatise them simply because they are ill. Their condition is similar to other illnesses in that it can be treated with appropriate care. They are experiencing mental illness. This workshop aims to dismantle such misconceptions,” she said.
Kwai expressed her desire to witness this form of training being implemented within communities and urges her colleagues to disseminate the information to others and participate in future sessions.
She furthered that her recommendation is to acknowledge the presence of many individuals with mental health issues on the streets.
“It is important to treat them with respect and offer assistance when they require it. Avoid stigmatising them,” Kwai said.
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