Mental Health and Trauma Training in Nepal

In August, we trained 71 informal care providers in basic mental health and trauma. Church leaders, social workers, and individuals who serve with local and international NGOs attended training workshops. Training emphasized how to meet the needs for people suffering from the catastrophic earthquakes on April 25 and May 12.

Just after training in August, when an aftershock struck, trained participants left immediately to serve people in the mountains where there are fewer resources. Team members were better equipped to assist people holistically—meeting physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. In addition, participating in this training opened a door for Nepali partners to obtain funding for construction projects.

At least one participant has been using Baby Finds Grace, a children’s story developed for children who have experienced trauma and/or grief, to help children.

The training also had an impact on awareness and treatment of the severely mentally ill. One church leader told us the mentally ill were often seen as animals, and he would work to change opinion to stop people from throwing stones at them.

Next Steps
Training continues in 2016. The second workshop will focus on trauma and special populations such as children, older adults, the homeless and prisoners. We will also follow up with participants trained last year to see how they have been using what they learned, and to provide assistance in challenging areas.

Links:

• Tributaries International web site

Seventy-one informal care providers received training in basic mental health, illness and trauma in August 2015. Thirty-five were trained in Nepagunj, in the southwestern part of Nepal near the border with India. Thirty-six were trained in the capital city, Kathmandu. A project plan is being written for additional training and follow-up in 2016.

Participants were selected through a local partner, Hope for Nepal. Included were church leaders, social workers, caregivers, and staff from international NGOs. Both men and women attended the training, providing a great atmosphere in which to examine needs for different populations.

Participants were trained in the concept of whole person care - ways to care for others who have experienced trauma, and providing self-care as they serve. Training also included causes and symptoms of common and severe mental illness and emotional trauma, and when to refer. Special emphasis focused on trauma care following the earthquake, and working with children.

Some immediate outcomes are that people in the training are more confident in understanding and counseling others, and they are better able to handle their own stress.

Though our funding goal was not reached on GlobalGiving, an individual donor covered the remaining costs. Thank you for supporting the effort to equip local care providers in psychosocial care!

Links:

• Tributaries International web site
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