Mental health care during the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone.

Mental health care during the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone. Bull World Health Organ. 2017 Dec 01;95(12):842-847 Authors: Kamara S, Walder A, Duncan J, Kabbedijk A, Hughes P, Muana A Abstract Problem: Reported levels of mental health and psychosocial problems rose during the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone. Approach: As part of the emergency response, existing plans to create mental health units within the existing hospital framework were brought forward. A nurse-led mental health and psychosocial support service, with an inpatient liaison service and an outpatient clinic, was set up at the largest government hospital in the country. One mental health nurse trained general nurses in psychological first aid, case identification and referral pathways. Health-care staff attended mental well-being workshops on coping with stigma and stress. Local setting: Mental health service provision in Sierra Leone is poor, with one specialist psychiatric hospital to serve the population of 7 million. Relevant changes: From March 2015 to February 2016, 143 patients were seen at the clinic; 20 had survived or had relatives affected by Ebola virus disease. Half the patients (71) had mild distress or depression, anxiety disorders and grief or social problems, while 30 patients presented with psychosis requiring medication. Fourteen non-specialist nurses received mental health awareness train...
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Bull World Health Organ Source Type: research