Mental health manpower development in Afghanistan: a report on a training course for primary health care physicians

Ahmad, Mahmood; Saeed, Khalid; Shahmohammadi, D; Bolhari, J; Bina, M; Gater, Richard; Mubbashar, Malik H.

doi:10.26719/1999.5.2.373

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In 1992, these care facilities were looted when the Soviet-backed government fell, 148 and throughout the civil war and Taliban regime, Afghanistan's rudimentary mental health system was severely disrupted. 134 A major step forward was taken in 1999, when a 3-month diploma course was initiated to train 20 medical practitioners in basic psychiatric practice; 149 it could not be sustained, given prevailing insecurity. By 2002, only two psychiatrists and a few dozen doctors were working within mental healthcare facilities, most of them with limited training.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions

Alemi,

Panter-Brick,

Oriya

et al. 2023

BJPsych open

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Background Four decades of war, political upheaval, economic deprivation and forced displacement have profoundly affected both in-country and refugee Afghan populations. Aims We reviewed literature on mental health and psychosocial well-being, to assess the current evidence and describe mental healthcare systems, including government programmes and community-based interventions. Method In 2022, we conducted a systematic search in Google Scholar, PTSDpubs, PubMed and PsycINFO, and a hand search of grey literature (N = 214 papers). We identified the main factors driving the epidemiology of mental health problems, culturally salient understandings of psychological distress, coping strategies and help-seeking behaviours, and interventions for mental health and psychosocial support. Results Mental health problems and psychological distress show higher risks for women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and youth. Issues of suicidality and drug use are emerging problems that are understudied. Afghans use specific vocabulary to convey psychological distress, drawing on culturally relevant concepts of body–mind relationships. Coping strategies are largely embedded in one's faith and family. Over the past two decades, concerted efforts were made to integrate mental health into the nation's healthcare system, train cadres of psychosocial counsellors, and develop community-based psychosocial initiatives with the help of non-governmental organisations. A small but growing body of research is emerging around psychological interventions adapted to Afghan contexts and culture. Conclusions We make four recommendations to promote health equity and sustainable systems of care. Interventions must build cultural relevance, invest in community-based psychosocial support and evidence-based psychological interventions, maintain core mental health services at logical points of access and foster integrated systems of care.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions

Alemi,

Panter-Brick,

Oriya

et al. 2023

BJPsych open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Moreover, sustainable and lifelong psychiatric training programs targeted to non‐psychiatrists may be ideal. 6 …”

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confidence: 99%

Significance of a psychiatry rotation for subjective achievement of competencies related to psychiatry in the Japanese postgraduate residency system

Matsuzaka

Michitsuji

Ozono

et al. 2021

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci

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The ISTSS/Rand Guidelines on Mental Health Training of Primary Healthcare Providers for Trauma-Exposed Populations in Conflict-Affected Countries

et al. 2006

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Mental health care for trauma-exposed populations in conflict-affected developing countries often is provided by primary healthcare providers (PHPs), including doctors, nurses, and lay health workers. The Task Force on International Trauma Training, through an initiative sponsored by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the RAND Corporation, has developed evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for the mental health training of PHPs in conflict-affected developing countries. This article presents the Guidelines, which provide a conceptual framework and specific principles for improving the quality of mental health training for PHPs working with trauma-exposed populations.

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Mental health manpower development in Afghanistan: a report on a training course for primary health care physicians

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions

Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions

Significance of a psychiatry rotation for subjective achievement of competencies related to psychiatry in the Japanese postgraduate residency system

The ISTSS/Rand Guidelines on Mental Health Training of Primary Healthcare Providers for Trauma-Exposed Populations in Conflict-Affected Countries

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