With the support and mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Harris of A.M. Dogliotti Medical College at the University of Liberia, Dr. David Henderson and Dr. Christina Borba of the Chester M. Pierce M.D. Division of Global Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the MGH/Mclean Adult Psychiatry Residency program I have had the opportunity to come to Monrovia, Liberia as a rising PGY3. The focus of my trip is manifold and includes understanding psychiatric practice in post-conflict Liberia, teaching medical students and mental health clinicians about psychiatric diagnosis and management, providing consultation for patients at Grant Mental Health Hospital and hopefully encouraging some students to go into the fascinating and underserved field of psychiatry. I have returned to Monrovia nearly twenty years after my first visit as a child when my mother was stationed in Monrovia working for UNICEF. Returning now many years later, the country seems both familiar and unfamiliar. Now I look at the city of Monrovia with a new set of skills as a psychiatric resident. My hope is to develop a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by both clinicians and psychiatric patients here in Liberia. The experiences I have had so far have provided immeasurable insight into the local Liberian context and will lay the ground-work for any future research endeavors regarding mental health service provision for this population.
Liberia
has suffered from violent civil conflict from 1989 to 2003 with over 250,000
people killed in two Liberian civil wars and more than one-third of the
nation’s inhabitants forced to flee their homes as refugees and internally
displaced persons. Although there is limited data regarding prevalence of
psychiatric illness in Liberia there appears to be high rates of mental illness
including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Despite the
high prevalence of psychiatric illness, individuals often face multiple
barriers to accessing appropriate psychiatric care including lack of human
resources, minimal access to psychotropic medications, and lack of culturally
appropriate interventions or treatment settings. In
fact, there is only one psychiatrist to serve a population of approximately 3.5
million! Additionally, lack of perceived need for treatment, the view that
mental illness is a result of personal weakness, and stigma are also
significant barriers to detection and treatment of mental illness.
I
have spent the majority of my time thus far at Grant Mental Health Hospital, the sole
psychiatric hospital in Liberia. It has a variable census ranging from 40-70
patients and is run by psychiatric nurse specialists and mental health workers.
Patients are typically brought by the police, family or community members for
concerning behavior, and often after many years of wandering the streets and/or
visiting traditional healers for herbal treatments. In addition to patient
consultations, I am working with the medical students to provide case-based
teaching and lectures on the fundamentals of psychiatric diagnosis and
treatment. I have also had the good fortune to work with Dr. Benjamin Harris,
the only psychiatrist in Liberia, who, in addition to the students, nurses and
patients have provided an invaluable educational experience for me regarding the
practice of psychiatry in Liberia.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra information? It is extremely helpful for me.
ReplyDeletewestcoastlifecenter.com
Right here is the perfect website for everyone who wants to understand this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject that has been discussed for decades. Great stuff, just wonderful
ReplyDeleteHOW I GOT CURED OF HERPES VIRUS.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone out there, i am here to give my testimony about a herbalist called dr imoloa. i was infected with herpes simplex virus 2 in 2013, i went to many hospitals for cure but there was no solution, so i was thinking on how i can get a solution out so that my body can be okay. one day i was in the pool side browsing and thinking of where i can get a solution. i go through many website were i saw so many testimonies about dr imoloa on how he cured them. i did not believe but i decided to give him a try, i contacted him and he prepared the herpes for me which i recieved through DHL courier service. i took it for two weeks after then he instructed me to go for check up, after the test i was confirmed herpes negative. am so free and happy. so, if you have problem or you are infected with any disease kindly contact him on email--- drimolaherbalmademedicine@gmail.com. or / whatssapp --+2347081986098.
This testimony serve as an expression of my gratitude. he also have herbal cure for COLD SORE, SHINGLES, CANCER, HEPATITICS A, B. DIABETES 1/2, HIV/AIDS, CHRONIC PANCERATIC, CHLAMYDIA, ZIKA VIRUS, EMPHYSEMA, LOW SPERM COUNT, ENZYMA, COUGH, ULCER, ARTHRITIS, LEUKEMIA, LYME DISEASE, ASTHMA, IMPOTENCE, BARENESS/INFERTILITY, WEAK ERECTION, PENIS ENLARGEMENT. AND SO ON.
If you are suffering from anxiety or panic disorder, here are some medications for anxiety disorder, to order some medicine for anxiety or panic attack from the best online pharmacy you may click these link. They provide you medicine with prescription.
ReplyDeleteBuy Diazepam Online, Buy Valium Online, Buy Diazepam cheap online , Valium for Anxiety, Order Valium Cash on Delivery, Buy Valium 5mg Online
percocet for sale
ReplyDeletepercocet for sale usa
percocet for sale canada
order percocet uk
Percocet
buy viagra online uk
buy cheap viagra online
order viagra 50mg 100mg online
where to buy viagra online usa
Buy Viagra 50mg 100mg Online
order hydrocodone online uk and usa
where to buy hydrocodone online
best quality hydrocodone for sale
purchase hydrocodone online
Buy Hydrocodone Online
best quality Roxicodone for sale online
where to buy roxicodone online
Roxicodone for sale online
purchase Roxicodone online usa
Buy Roxicodone Online
Sour Diesel Shatter
Afghan Kush
AK-47
White Widow
where to order OG Kush online