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The treatment gap in mental health care

KOHN, Robert
et al
November 2004

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This study examines the extent of the gap between the high prevalence of mental disorders and the great number of individuals with psychiatric disorders who remain untreated, even though effective treatments exist. The study uses results from 37 studies on service utilisation worldwide and presents examples of the estimation of the treatment gap for WHO regions are presented. The treatment gaps are universally large but vary from region to region. The abstract to this report is given in French, Spanish and Arabic

Ageing and mental health [whole issue]

September 2004

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Older people in low-income countries are more likely to develop mental problems, due to the stress and worries caused by the uncertainties and lack of security. Because of stigma and limited access to health services and treatment, their condition often goes undiagnosed. This issue reflects on how old age and poverty impact on mental health and suggests positive approaches and ways of promoting good mental health, such as the 'guided autobiography' which helps older people to plan their future. Includes articles on how to recognise depression, practical approaches to dementia and how to help carers to cope

Integrating mental health and psychosocial interventions into World Bank lending for conflict-affected populations : a toolkit

BAINGANA, Florence
BANNON, Ian
September 2004

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"The toolkit begins with a general introduction that sets the stage for mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of conflict affected populations. A discussion of programming issues then follows which is then followed by two sections that outline the steps to take to operationalise mental health and psychosocial interventions"

HIV/AIDS : what about very young children?

DUNN, Alison
July 2004

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This short paper reflects findings from research carried out to identify current responses to meet the needs of children age 0-8 living in HIV/AIDS affected communities. The overall results show that at local, national and international levels there are gaps in programming and policy to engage ideas and mobilise resources to address the needs and experiences of very young children both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The question is then raised: What can we actually do to include very young children in programming and policy responses in HIV/AIDS affected communities? Supporting existing family and community networks and current efforts that are being made by people confronting HIV/AIDS on a daily basis are important strategies. Conclusions are drawn indicating that services are required urgently to support very young children both directly and through the families and communities in which they live. Ways of listening to and including very young children in these processes need to be developed and used. Partnerships need to be developed between parents, families, NGOs, CBOs and government to ensure the holistic development of the child. At policy levels, very young children need to be included in programmes that address children, HIV/AIDS and community development. All government ministries can participate in meeting the needs of very young children in HIV/AIDS affected communities

The journey of life : a community workshop to support children

REGIONAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT INITIATIVE (REPSSI)
June 2004

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'The Journey of Life' is a community workshop curriculum to support children. This workshop seeks to address the increasing psychological and social needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS, war, and displacement. Its objective is to raise community awareness of the problems that children face growing up in a time of HIV/AIDS, war, and family disintegration. 'The Journey of Life' assists the community to identify children in need of social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical support. Through dialogue and reflection the community better understands how to use available resources in solving the problems that children encounter and to strengthen the resilience of their children. The workshop covers the areas of meeting children's needs; understanding children's problems; identifying children who need help; building children's strengths; and community mobilisation. The workshop manual can be used without additional training, though further training has been found to be helpful. A Facilitator's Guide accompanies the workshop

Clinical management of rape survivors : developing protocols for use with refugees and internally displaced persons

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
June 2004

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"This guide describes best practices for clinical management of people who have been raped in emergency situations. It is intended for adaptation to each situation, taking into account national policies and practices, and availability of materials and drugs. This guide is intended for use by qualified health-care providers in developing protocols for the management of rape survivors in emergencies, taking into account available resources, materials, and drugs, and national policies and procedures. It can also be used in planning health-care services and training health-care providers. The document includes detailed guidance on the clinical management of women, men and children who have been raped"

The Senegalese antiretroviral drug access initiative : an economic, social, behavioural and biomedical analysis

DESCLAUX, Alice
et al
April 2004

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This very thorough analysis of the Senegalese Antiretroviral Drug Access Initiative (ISAARV) presents preliminary results from the initiative's first three years. The analysis explores four aspects of the programme: treatment access, adherence, therapeutic efficacy, and the impact of this treatment programme on the Senegalese health care system

Mapping workshop manual : finding your way through life, society and HIV

ALEMELEH, Colin
et al
March 2004

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This manual was developed through the Memory Box Project, and some of the mapping exercises presented here draw on the tradition of 'memory work'. However, it reflects a shift in emphasis from bereavement and succession planning to positive living in the context of greater availability of antiretroviral therapy, and with people living with HIV/AIDS now having the opportunity to live longer, more productive lives. The mapping exercises described in this manual are designed to encourage empowerment and understanding of available opportunities, identify key components of an enabling environment and promote positive living. Tools presented include journey mapping, body mapping and memory box

VCT toolkit : HIV voluntary counselling and testing. A reference guide for counsellors and trainers

SANGIWA, Gloria
et al
January 2004

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This reference guide was developed for trainers, counselors in training, and working counselors, to highlight the links between VCT and HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support. It provides teaching methodologies, including demonstrations, role-playing, supervised practice, desensitization, and negotiating skills. It also contains worksheets and checklists for practical sessions, and texts for demonstrations and exercises to be conducted during the training courses. Chapters focus on counselling strategies, physical and psychological care, counselling for specific groups, grief and bereavement, counsellor stress and burnout, monitoring and quality assurance, and ethics. The guide outlines key activities related to training in (and provision of) VCT services

Lessons learned workshop : a review of assistance programs for war wounded and other persons with disabilities living in mine-affected countries

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL
2004

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This review is the result of a workshop in May 2004 which brought together rehabilitation specialists from Africa, Asia, Europe and Central America to review assistance programmes for war wounded and persons who are living in landmine-affected countries. Lessons learned regarding emergency and continuing medical care, physical rehabilitation, psycho-social support, economic integration, capacity-building and sustainability, access to services, data collection, and coordination are presented in some detail, with reference to achieving the aims outlined in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines' Guidelines for the care and rehabilitation of survivors (1999)

Taking better care? Review of a decade of work with orphans and vulnerable children in Rakai, Uganda

WITTER, Sophie
CALDER, George
AHIMBISIBWE, Timothy
2004

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Taking Better Care looks at the situation facing orphaned and vulnerable children in the Rakai District in Uganda and at the legacy of Save the Children's Child Social Care Project (CSCP) there. The report examines the impact of the CSCP, implemented between 1991 and 1996, and at trends in Rakai since the CSCP ended, as well as outlining the lessons learned and providing recommendations for future action. It concludes that in order to support orphans and vulnerable children in a long-term, sustainable way, child-care models now need to incorporate a maximum of state support and civil society mobilisation, combined with more traditional family support

Handbook on paediatric AIDS in Africa

TINDYEBWA, Denis
et al
2004

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This handbook intends to provide users in resource-poor countries with a tool that can be adapted to their needs. It follows the four principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and aims to provide a simple, accessible and practical handbook for health workers involved in preventing infection and caring for children infected and affected by HIV. It includes substantial chapters on caring for HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children, infants and orphans; diagnosis and the clinical stages of HIV infection; clinical conditions associated with HIV (diarrhoea, malnutrition, neurological manifestations, skin manifestations and more); pulmonary conditions; anti-retroviral therapy for children; youth issues, long-term and terminal care planning; psychosocial support. The primary targets are medical students and their lecturers, nurses, clinicians, community health workers and other service providers in resource poor settings where there is a significant HIV and AIDS burden

Children in crisis : good practices in evaluating psychosocial programming

DUNCAN, Joan
ARNTSON, Laura
2004

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This manual attempts to articulate major principles of psychosocial project design and evaluation practices in concise, user-friendly terms. It is intended for field-based managers and coordinators of psychosocial programming, as well as for managers of emergency relief programmes who may want to integrate psychosocial programming methods into more traditional relief efforts, such as food distribution, construction projects, and medical assistance. The manual also seeks to heighten critical awareness of the cultural and ethical issues associated with psychosocial work

People with physical impairments and mental health support needs : a critical review of the literature

MORRIS, Jenny
2004

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This paper presents the findings of a review of the literature on the mental health support needs of people with physical impairments. It is divided into two main parts: a review of research literature concerned with psychology, psychiatry and rehabilitation services; and a review of what is known about the mental health support needs and experiences of people with physical impairments from a social model perspective

Orphans and vulnerable children : taking action, building support. 2004 regional conference report back

VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS REGIONAL AIDS INITIATIVE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (VSO-RAISA)
2004

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This is the report of an annual conference entitled 'Tomorrow’s future, today’s choices. Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Taking action, building support'. The conference included youth delegates from Malawi and Zambia and over three days focused on: care and support; rights, psychosocial support, education and networking; skills building

Psycho-social/mental health care in the occupied Palestinian territories : the embryonic system

GIACAMAN, Rita
et al
2004

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This report presents the findings of a survey exploring the nature and extent of counselling and therapeutic services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is the first installment of an ongoing assessment of psycho-social/mental health care in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. It aims to identify the main obstacles, map the extent of institutional provision of services, identify principal learning and development needs, and gain a picture of the type of work and methods used. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in mental health and programme planning

Psoriatic Care Fact File

PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY ALLIANCE (PAA)
2004

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This fact file contains 32 fact sheets on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to enable healthcare providers to give a patient - at the point of treatment delivery - an instant answer to some of their questions, in a format which they will be able to understand and that professionals consider appropriate. This resource is available in printed or CD-ROM format as well as electronically

Sierra Leone and civil war : neglected trauma and forgotten children

HEEREN, Nicolas
2004

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This article describes the work of Handicap International in working with children and young people in Sierra Leone. It emphasises how the particular nature of different forms of torture created links between the children’s physical trauma and the psychological suffering. This article is useful for practitioners who are working with children and young people who have been the victims and perpetrators of violence
Humanitaire, No 9

Surgical reconstruction and rehabilitation in leprosy and other neuropathies

SCHWARZ, R. J.
BRANDSMA, J. W.
Eds
2004

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"This book is designed for those with some training in reconstructive surgery for peripheral neuropathies, but who have not been exposed to all of the procedures presently available...In this field it is absolutely essential that the surgeon works closely with a therapist able to educate the patient following reconstructive surgical procedures. As such the book is also designed for therapists, with chapters covering the principles and techniques of pre- and postoperative therapy for neuropathic limbs. The book also contains sections on orthopaedic appliances and prosthesis, but only in sufficient detail to allow the surgeon to have a reasonable understanding of how to choose an appropriate orthosis/ prosthesis and what can be expected of the same"

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