IN strengthening the capacity of nurses to deliver psychological trauma and mental health services to affected individuals, while also maintaining their mental wellbeing, 24 medical practitioners were certified in an inaugural process that is expected to expand to all ten administrative regions.
The five-day disaster related Psychological Trauma and Mental Health Training for Nurses concluded on Monday at the Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Public Health, Quamina Street, Georgetown.

Senior Psychologist at the Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Public Health,  Balogun Osunbiyi, said the five-day course saw 24 persons being certified out of 25.

“This will be an ongoing training, this is the inaugural programme; myself and registered nurse Jenella Trim went to the St Augustine Campus in April and we did the trainer of trainers course. We joined 29 other persons on the training from different countries and we are now mandated by our training to return and help train our health providers,” he said.
He explained that the second batch of persons will be trained at the end of October, 2019 and, after that, training will be moved within various administrative regions.

The psychologist explained that the idea is to create a pool of well-qualified nurses within the Caribbean with the requisite competencies to respond to psychological trauma in countries in the aftermath of a disaster.

Further, he noted that the education of health workers is constantly evolving and the appropriate preparation of nurse practitioners in being first-aiders in disaster- related traumas is critical
Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Public Health, Linda Johnson, said that the workshop prepared nurses for natural disasters and coping mechanisms.

“Nurses go through many things, sometimes they may lose a patient, or a patient complication where they would have seen a positive and it doesn’t turn out that way, and, they process this daily and sometimes nurses are not being counselled themselves to overcome this, and sometimes another one comes on them and this causes nurses to go into depression or explode,” the Chief Nurse noted.

She said that the workshop is directed towards helping nurses cue in on the need for help where initial help is sought and professional services are then advocated.
Participant, Dr. Taishn Shanks, said the training focuses on the many stressors that are faced by persons in the medical profession while educating the participants on what to do if certain negative events arise.

He said coping mechanisms, phases and trauma faced by medical professionals need attention and the training offered the requisite knowledge for the participants.
“We are now more knowledgeable and adequately charged in performing our responsibilities wherever they may be,” Dr. Shanks said.

Probation officer attached to the Ministry of Social Protection, Ndibi Marcus, said that the training was timely and it is essential that more persons within certain fields are trained since upon completion of the course the lack of preparedness as professionals was highlighted in disaster management.

“This is the first of such in the country and I think we need nationwide training of more professionals on how to handle certain situations,” she said.

According to Director of UWI School of Nursing, Dr. Oscar Ocho, the Caribbean Region has been and continues to be affected by a number of human and natural disasters and the health sector plays a critical role in responding to the various needs of individuals, families and communities.

“Nurses are usually at the forefront of these responses but little consideration is given to the potentially negative physical and emotional effects that they are likely to encounter during and after the response process,” he noted.

Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas, said the training was timely as nurses, and other healthcare professionals will be equipped with the requisite knowledge to render psychosocial support to persons affected by disasters.

“Participants will be able to apply the principles they learn here in a multiplicity of situations in our dear land of Guyana. Those of you who are familiar with psychiatry and mental health will know medication plays a small part in the treatment of these disorders, and psychosocial interventions are major.”

The specialised training comes after the University of the West Indies’ School of Nursing in Trinidad and Tobago, took the lead in developing and executing a project which seeks to broaden the capacity of nurses throughout the Caribbean in this regard.
The countries identified to roll out this training include Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Marteen and Suriname.

These countries were prioritised since it was determined that they are prone to disasters and in need of a comprehensive response to the effects of natural disasters.
While the only natural disaster Guyana is susceptible to is flooding, it was noted that the information which will be disseminated over the training period has been deemed relevant and will be reserved as a focus area.