16 - COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH

Page 1: Community-Based Mental Health Clinical Psychology


Page 2: What is a Community?

  • Definition: A community can be defined as groups of people living within a specific geographic area.

  • Characteristics:

    • Social interaction among members

    • A shared sense of belonging

    • Common political and social responsibilities

  • Structures and Norms: Each community has its own set of structures and norms that guide interactions among its members.


Page 3: Stress and Community Impact

  • Effects of Stress: Just as individuals, communities are also influenced by stress.

  • Psychosocial Support: Defined as a process aimed at supporting resilience in individuals, families, and the wider community.


Page 4: Psychosocial Support Goals

  • Objective: To support communities in identifying and utilizing their strengths and resources to recover from crises.

  • Role: This involves assistance in mobilizing community resources.


Page 5: Supporting Individuals through Community

  • For effective protection and recovery of individuals, communities themselves must be supported.

  • Community Strengths: Communities serve as protective factors, providing necessary resources to individuals facing challenges.


Page 6: Community-Based Mental Health

  • Definition: Community-based mental health care supports individuals with mental health conditions within their local environments.

  • Goals:

    • To reduce stigma associated with mental health

    • To enhance the quality of life for those affected by mental health issues.


Page 7: Essence of Community-Based Mental Health

  • Importance of Community: Essential for thriving, particularly for individuals experiencing mental illness, which can lead to loneliness and isolation.

  • Key Aspects:

    • Belongingness: Supports emotional connection.

    • Support: Provides a network for assistance.

    • Purpose: Offers individuals a sense of direction and meaning.


Page 8: Culturally Sensitive Care

  • Accessibility: Community-based mental health promotes accessible, culturally sensitive care for individuals, improving mental health treatment outcomes.

  • Outcome Improvement: Leads to reduced stigma and improved community support.


Page 9: Overall Well-Being

  • Local Care: Access to care within familiar environments and social networks is crucial.

  • Prevention of Rights Violations: Helps prevent human rights abuses linked to institutionalization.


Page 10: Mental Health Challenges in Communities

  • Stigma: Individuals may face ostracization from their communities due to mental health issues.

  • Inaccessibility: Mental health care services can be hard to reach within communities.

  • Aggravating Factors: Systems and habits within the community may worsen mental health challenges.


Page 11: Best Practices

  • Quezon City Community-Based Mental Health Program: Established on 06 November 2017, it serves as a model for integrated mental health services within the community.

  • Program Goals: Provides comprehensive mental health services that are appropriate for individuals with mental illness.


Page 12: Community Services

  • Integration: Mental health services are incorporated into primary health care at health centers.

  • Diagnosis and Treatment: Specialists provide diagnosis and treatment in hospitals and community outreach settings.

  • Expansion: Includes psychiatric wards in general hospitals to scale up services.


Page 13: Program Strategies

  • Capacity Building: Enhances skills of health center staff and community leaders.

  • Mental Health Promotion: Includes initiatives like "Young Healthy Mind" for adolescents to raise awareness and engagement in mental health contexts.


Page 14: Further Program Strategies

  • Decentralization: Creating "Mental Wellness Access Hubs" (MWAH) to provide psychotropic drugs in local health centers.

  • Outreach: Conducting community-based diagnosis and treatment mentoring sessions.

  • Psychosocial Support: Providing support in HOPE Facilities and during lockdowns in the community.