Promoting mental health within Tsunami-affected communities in Sri Lanka
The BasicNeeds Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme draws on our experience of working with people in situations of disaster, especially the effects of the Tsunami on Sri Lanka. The programme teaches the BasicNeeds approach to working with communities in emergencies through a process of psychosocial care that takes a development approach to mental health.
BasicNeeds will be offering four training of trainers’ programmes in 2008 and 2009 with the objective of building capacity in community mental health and development for 100 staff working for community organisations, NGOs and government agencies in the Southern and Eastern Provinces of the country.
The first
programme was held in March 2008 in the South for 25 development
practitioners. The next Training of Trainers session is being
held in the East from 18th to 28th August 2008. This exciting
opportunity will give participants the chance to learn, first hand,
about BasicNeeds' successful approach to supporting people affected by
the Tsunami and those vulnerable to mental health as a result.
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To attend the course, download and fill out the application form >> |
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or download and complete the expression of interest >> |
| If you would like more information about any of our courses, please contact Heloise de Lima, the course co-ordinator, here or by telephone on +94 11 287 1801 |
The programme has two parts. The first module is a ten-day residential 'Training of Trainers' programme. Participants experience the BasicNeeds' programmes first hand and meet with volunteers, psychiatrists, development workers and survivors of the Tsunami. The chance for participants to learn from the communities in a structured and participatory way is central to the training programme.
The second module comprises access to a twelve-month follow-up programme that enables discussions and addresses issues arising, allowing participants to gain from further skill development over a twelve-month period. Overall, participants use their skills to develop programmes and to integrate new approaches into their existing work and to train and support other staff in working with disaster-affected communities.
In 2007 and 2008 we conducted 05 ToT programmes. A total of 105 participants completed the programmes, attending from eleven countries; India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, East Timor, Laos, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, USA and Australia.
The two main professional activities of participants were community development and mental health/psychosocial work, but participants also came from the fields of disability, social work and management. It is notable that most participants are either professionals in mental health seeking further training on community-based initiatives or workers in community development requiring support in responding better to mental health problems that they experience in disaster-affected communities. Those participants from disability organisations, management positions or social work tend to be looking for ways to improve the quality of services for people affected by mental illness.
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| Participatory exercises feature in every part of the programme. |
Participants at the Five ToT programmes completed daily evaluations covering four aspects of the programme; knowledge gained from the session, handouts, clarity of presentation and methodology used. The evaluations at the most recent programme, in May 2008, show that more than 87% of the responses rated the programme as good or very good for each element of the programme overall. Only 2% commented that the programme required improvement. Many participants made valuable suggestions that we incorporate into our planning for subsequent programmes.
In addition, some participants offered the following comments on the overall programme:
“This programme gives me a lot of experience which will benefit the mental ill people in our working area as well as in the other communities”.
“In our country, mental health issues are neglected so I think it would be fruitful if we have enough scope to work with the development approach in mental health”.
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Click here to view 'Beyond the Third Wave' |
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Click here to view 'Beyond the Third Wave' |
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Click here to view 'Beyond the Third Wave' |
If you are having problems downloading the video, right click the link and select 'Save Target As'.
Training
Heloise de Lima Coordinator
600/3 Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 287 1801
Lao PDR 
