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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/imh-temasek-complete-post/2004926.html
IMH, Temasek complete post-disaster psychological support training project
Participants in Thailand, Indonesia and China have received training to "develop and promote emotional resilience and well-being programmes" as part of post-disaster recovery efforts, say the Institute of Mental Health and Temasek Foundation.
POSTED: 24 Jul 2015 14:20
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A screengrab from the video, Building Back Better: Stories From Sichuan, China.
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SINGAPORE: The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Temasek Foundation (TF) have announced the completion of a three-year project that set out to "develop and implement a capability building programme in mental well-being and resilience to support sustainable disaster preparedness and recovery in Asian communities".
In a news release on Friday (Jul 24), IMH and TF said the Disaster Mental Health Programme for Communities in Asia cost a total of S$2.38 million, of which Temasek provided a grant of S$1.96 million.
Launched in 2012, the programme was completed in collaboration with tertiary healthcare organisations. They include Galya Rajanagarindra Institute in Bangkok, Thailand, West China Hospital in Sichuan, China and Rumah Sakit Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The programme culminates in the 2015 Asian Community Mental Health Leadership Forum, set to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from Jul 27 to 29. The forum will focus on crisis and disaster preparedness, said IMH and TF.
"The three-day forum serves as a platform to showcase and share regional efforts, best practices and innovations in enhancing provision of mental health services in post-disaster recovery," they said.
“It is a great privilege and learning experience for us to work with partners from Thailand, Indonesia and China," said IMH CEO A/Prof Chua Hong Choon. "We may not have natural disasters in Singapore, but we have had our share of crises such as the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in 2003, which left people in psychological distress. Disasters and crises can strike anytime and we must be prepared for them."
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME
IMH and TF said the programme was launched in three phases, which included:
Phase 1: The training of 120 government, community, and healthcare-based senior officers in planning, developing and implementing mental health services in communities impacted by disaster
Phase 2: The training of 120 mental health and community-based professionals, such as psychiatrists, nurses, family physicians, psychologists, social workers and community leaders as “Master Trainers” in a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme. These "Master Trainers" then developed customised training programmes that best meet the needs of their community
Phase 3: The Master Trainers then share knowledge and skills to 600 community-based workers, such as social service groups, teachers and volunteers to build “spheres of influence” to promote mental wellbeing and emotional resilience within the communities, enabling them to better manage mental health issues on the ground in times of need.
"The training has enabled the participants to lead and support resilience building in their communities with context-specific strategies, driven by factors unique to each region, country and community," said IMH and TF.
In Thailand, knowledge gained from the programme was used to help the victims affected by the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Chiang Rai on May 6. "The Thais also went on to strengthen national and local networks to sustain capacity and resilience building efforts by scaling up and developing a community of practice, which now has almost 600 members," they said.
In Indonesia, the programme focused on the emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and adolescents affected by disasters. Indonesia also initiated a core curriculum to "build baseline knowledge and competencies, "while retaining sufficient flexibility to allow for cultural adaptation" due to Indonesia's large size. A book that is a result of the collaboration, Disaster And Mental Health Of Children & Adolescents, will be launched at the forum.
In Sichuan, localised programmes were developed to help various communities across the region. "For instance, in Leigu, northeast Sichuan, near the epicentre of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the programme trained teachers to detect signs of trauma in children and adolescents, post-disaster. In Panzhihua, southern Sichuan, volunteer training for psychological first aid to support disaster victims was prioritised instead," said IMH and TF.
IMH, Temasek complete post-disaster psychological support training project
Participants in Thailand, Indonesia and China have received training to "develop and promote emotional resilience and well-being programmes" as part of post-disaster recovery efforts, say the Institute of Mental Health and Temasek Foundation.
POSTED: 24 Jul 2015 14:20
PHOTOS
A screengrab from the video, Building Back Better: Stories From Sichuan, China.
Enlarge
Caption
Email More
A A
SINGAPORE: The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Temasek Foundation (TF) have announced the completion of a three-year project that set out to "develop and implement a capability building programme in mental well-being and resilience to support sustainable disaster preparedness and recovery in Asian communities".
In a news release on Friday (Jul 24), IMH and TF said the Disaster Mental Health Programme for Communities in Asia cost a total of S$2.38 million, of which Temasek provided a grant of S$1.96 million.
Launched in 2012, the programme was completed in collaboration with tertiary healthcare organisations. They include Galya Rajanagarindra Institute in Bangkok, Thailand, West China Hospital in Sichuan, China and Rumah Sakit Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The programme culminates in the 2015 Asian Community Mental Health Leadership Forum, set to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from Jul 27 to 29. The forum will focus on crisis and disaster preparedness, said IMH and TF.
"The three-day forum serves as a platform to showcase and share regional efforts, best practices and innovations in enhancing provision of mental health services in post-disaster recovery," they said.
“It is a great privilege and learning experience for us to work with partners from Thailand, Indonesia and China," said IMH CEO A/Prof Chua Hong Choon. "We may not have natural disasters in Singapore, but we have had our share of crises such as the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in 2003, which left people in psychological distress. Disasters and crises can strike anytime and we must be prepared for them."
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME
IMH and TF said the programme was launched in three phases, which included:
Phase 1: The training of 120 government, community, and healthcare-based senior officers in planning, developing and implementing mental health services in communities impacted by disaster
Phase 2: The training of 120 mental health and community-based professionals, such as psychiatrists, nurses, family physicians, psychologists, social workers and community leaders as “Master Trainers” in a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme. These "Master Trainers" then developed customised training programmes that best meet the needs of their community
Phase 3: The Master Trainers then share knowledge and skills to 600 community-based workers, such as social service groups, teachers and volunteers to build “spheres of influence” to promote mental wellbeing and emotional resilience within the communities, enabling them to better manage mental health issues on the ground in times of need.
"The training has enabled the participants to lead and support resilience building in their communities with context-specific strategies, driven by factors unique to each region, country and community," said IMH and TF.
In Thailand, knowledge gained from the programme was used to help the victims affected by the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Chiang Rai on May 6. "The Thais also went on to strengthen national and local networks to sustain capacity and resilience building efforts by scaling up and developing a community of practice, which now has almost 600 members," they said.
In Indonesia, the programme focused on the emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and adolescents affected by disasters. Indonesia also initiated a core curriculum to "build baseline knowledge and competencies, "while retaining sufficient flexibility to allow for cultural adaptation" due to Indonesia's large size. A book that is a result of the collaboration, Disaster And Mental Health Of Children & Adolescents, will be launched at the forum.
In Sichuan, localised programmes were developed to help various communities across the region. "For instance, in Leigu, northeast Sichuan, near the epicentre of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the programme trained teachers to detect signs of trauma in children and adolescents, post-disaster. In Panzhihua, southern Sichuan, volunteer training for psychological first aid to support disaster victims was prioritised instead," said IMH and TF.
