Increasing the capacity of health surveillance assistants in community mental health care in a developing country,Malawi |
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| Authors: | Felix Kauye Chikayiko Chiwandira Jerome Wright Stephanie Common McEvans Phiri Chitsazo Mafuta Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje Michael Udedi |
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| Institution: | 1.Zomba Central Mental Hospital;2.Dept of Pyschology, Chancellor College, University of Malawi |
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| Abstract: | Mental health services in Malawi are centralized in the three tertiary units which are located one in each of the three regions of Malawi and this means that most people with mental health problems do not get help. With severe shortages of mental health professionals in the country, integration of mental health into existing primary and community health services is the most feasible way of increasing access to services for people with mental health problems. This paper discusses a pilot program of integrating mental health in the activities of Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who are community health workers in Malawi. |
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