61 more persons trained in problem management for communities
Jan. 18, 2024
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Thursday, January 18, 2024: An additional 61 Problem Management Plus (PM+) Providers graduated earlier today, taking the total number of graduates to 271, as the Ministry of Health & Wellness continues to bolster community-based mental wellness interventions islandwide.
The additional 61 volunteers, who are from community- and faith-based organisations, include professionals such as hairdressers and barbers, teachers, security officers, community health aides, nurses, pastors, guidance counsellors, and social workers.
Of the 61 who graduated from the programme today, in a ceremony held at the Sago Palm Hotel in Ocho Rios, there were 55 PM+ providers and six (6) supervisors.
That takes the total number of Providers to 217 and supervisors to 54.
Dr. Erica Robinson Sturridge, Professor and Associate Dean in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Allied Health and Nursing at Northern Caribbean University, in bringing greetings, commended the graduates for their volunteerism and commitment to the intervention.
“PM+ is a significant and impactful programme with the potential to revolutionise mental health in our nation. I want to congratulate each and every one of you for the hard work that you have undertaken in getting to this point in the programme. You never know the type of impact that your intervention can have on the lives of individuals,” she said.
Guest speaker at the ceremony, Dr. Geoffrey Walcott, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director for Psychotherapy Associates Ltd., spoke to the importance of developing specialised programmes that support people in tackling their daily challenges while also making the way clear for the preservation of their mental health.
“Once you can change culture, you can change society and the world. Studies show that a lot of the issues that we face in our society can be traced to childhood traumas and the various risk factors present at these early stages. It is incumbent on you, as PM+ providers, with the help of those in power in the Jamaican society, to recognise these issues so you can provide the requisite help to implement the necessary changes,” Dr. Walcott said.
PM+ is designed to bring mental health support services to communities, meeting people where they are, while providing them with the space and the tools to overcome adversity that can impact their mental wellness.
For more information on PM+ and/or to access mental wellness support, call the Ministry’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-NEW-LIFE (888-639-5433).
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