AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH - The Nossal Institute for ...

• What type of mental disorder is the person in the case study
experiencing?
• Does this person need to be referred to another health care provider?
• Who would you refer this person to and why?
Ask participants to return to the large group and discuss their responses
to the different case studies – did they refer to the right person?
Step 4 - Accessing other community resources
Form three groups based on geographical locations of the participants.
Ask each group to draw a picture of their village and surrounding area.
Ask them to indicate all the community resources (places & people) in
their area that they feel would be useful for people with mental disorders
and/or their families. For example; hospital, PHC centre, community hall,
clinic, temple and/or traditional healer etc.
Instruct participants to use green colour for those resources that they
think are useful to people with mental disorders or their families directly
or indirectly.
Ask each group to present their drawing to the rest of the class.
Discuss the usefulness of the identified facilities.
Supplement this information with any other facilities you are aware of.
Activity 24 : Understanding drug treatments
Time : 30 minutes
Purpose : To introduce the CHWs to medications used in the treatment of people
with mental disorders, and to make them aware of potential benefits and
side effects.
Materials : Paper and pens for participants.
Directions : Step 1
Give a presentation based on the ‘Information for Presentation’ box
below.
INFORMATION FOR PRESENTATION
Understanding drug treatments
• There are many effective ways of treating mental disorders.
• Once a doctor has decided what type of mental disorder the person has and prescribed
the appropriate medication, the CHW can help to monitor treatment in most cases.
AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH 89