Within the framework of the third phase of the Mental Health Project promoted by the Dominican Adventist University (UNAD, for its acronym in Spanish), more than 300 spiritual leaders participated in the workshop on "Depression and its management in the community", held in Santo Domingo, March 23rd.
This phase has the support of the Ministry of Health's Regional Health and Mental Health directorates; the Inter-American Division (DIA, for its acronym in Spanish), the Dominican Union and the Loma Linda University (LLU) health departments; and of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
The workshop is part of the training program that prepares church leaders to detect, provide counseling and follow-up, and refer cases of depression or other mental health conditions in their congregation. It should be noted that this phase was created by LLU and promoted through DIA's Department of Health, whose representatives, Dr. Carlos Fayard and Dr. Belkis Archbold have taken into account research results which reveal that people with psychological conditions prefer going to their spiritual leader than to doctors or psychologists.
In this sense, the workshop was aimed at promoting the project within the mental health network by strengthening community rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders through counseling and follow-up provided by their spiritual leaders, regardless of the religion they practice. The project also seeks to train community leaders with the basic tools provided by WHO's mhGAP.
The workshop was attended by pastors and spiritual leaders from the Adventist community and national authorities such as Dr. Suzana Guerrero, Mental Health Coordinator of the Ministry of Health; and the Provincial Director of Public Health for the province of Monsignor Nouel, Dra. Rita Desangles. Dr. Carmen Martínez, Subregional Advisor on Mental Health and Substance Use; consultant, Dr. Jorge Rodríguez; and national consultant, Dr. Alexandra Rodríguez, were present on behalf of PAHO/WHO.
