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Proving Quality Mental Health Care in Schools
Psychiatric Social Worker Dave Laudat is calling for mental health to be integrated into the Primary Health Care system in Dominica.
He was speaking on the heels of the observance of World Health Day with a week of activities commencing today.
According to Laudat, there is a hug treatment gap in service of patients with mental health problems in Dominica.
“In other words, the percentage of persons who are being treated for mental problems is very little compared to the mentally ill persons in Dominica. Almost 6 percent of the Caribbean population has been diagnosed as abusing alcohol but 70 percent do not receive mental health care.
Laudat says the focus is to empower community based persons who are the first responders to individuals with mental health problems.
“Treatment of mentally ill persons are mainly done in secondary hospitals so what we are saying is that mental health to be integrated into primary health care system
Meantime a major workshop and a panel discussion are expected to form part of the week of activities.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Mental health in primary care-enhancing treatment and promoting mental health.”
