After the guidelines; the challenge of implementation

Melville, Amanda; Rakotomalala, Sabine

doi:10.1097/wtf.0b013e3283200297

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Policy guidelines for different domains, including healthcare, have been developed over the years by various agencies and organizations to respond to the essential needs of those impacted as well as aid workers during an emergency. Although necessary and well-intentioned, the execution of such guidelines in a given context often falls short of their goals due to a range of practical, economic, political and cultural reasons (Melville and Rakotomalala, 2008;Surya et al, 2017). While basic structures may be in place in a given situation, the quality may be unintentionally compromised such that some needs are minimally addressed or dealt with in fragmented ways and some go unmet altogether.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovations in Addressing Mental Health Needs in Humanitarian Settings: A Complexity Informed Action Research Case Study

Parrish-Sprowl

Alajlouni

2020

Front. Commun.

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Addressing mental health challenges in humanitarian settings, where needs are many and resources are scarce, requires innovative solutions. In this manuscript, we describe a quantum complexity informed intervention, Communication for Whole Health (CWH), developed at the request of a large Jordanian healthcare NGO to address mental health needs of patients and staff. In the humanitarian aid context, this health domain is referred to by the acronym MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support). The focus of this participatory action research project, presented here as a case study, was the collaborative elaboration of an MHPSS intervention in an urban primary healthcare clinic serving mostly Syrian refugees. The intervention capitalizes on the synergistic effects generated from the systemic nature of communication where every interaction is an intervention, and the health implications of research demonstrating communication is bioactive. Rather than treating mental health as an add-on medical specialty targeting patients with “psychiatric disorders,” systemic MHPSS starts from the premise that everyone has mental health, which is inextricably linked to physical and social health. Emphasis is on integrating awareness of mental health as part of whole health and taking advantage of every interaction to facilitate well-being for patients and staff. The intervention facilitated the transformation of the communication ecology of the clinic from a culture of reactivity to a culture of receptivity by strengthening communication resources and practices. Staff reported feeling more empowered to help patients and displayed increased motivation to find innovative ways to use available resources. They felt better equipped to manage their own stress response and support coworkers. Patients learned basic stress management skills, helping them better manage chronic health conditions, and reported sharing this information with family members. Staff reported many examples of patients responding positively to interventions to reduce patient reactivity, leading to beneficial behavior change and improved health outcomes. Results suggest a systemic MHPSS approach can contribute to ameliorating health inequities by expanding resources for patients and staff, empowering them to act into their current circumstances to support whole health. The CWH approach has potential in similar contexts to address mental health needs in a cost-effective and impactful way.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovations in Addressing Mental Health Needs in Humanitarian Settings: A Complexity Informed Action Research Case Study

Parrish-Sprowl

Alajlouni

2020

Front. Commun.

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show abstract

“…4 The training of front-line responders is an important part of an early intervention phase. Central to current strategies for implementation are brief workshops, at global, national or community levels, to advocate or build capacity for the use of the guidelines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the publication of the guidelines as a major step in increased policy clarity, the subsequent pertinent issue is the development of a viable rollout strategy of the guidelines, especially given the multi-sectoral nature of the guidelines. Central to current strategies for implementation are brief workshops, at global, national or community levels, to advocate or build capacity for the use of the guidelines 4 . The training of front-line responders is an important part of an early intervention phase 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Central to current strategies for implementation are brief workshops, at global, national or community levels, to advocate or build capacity for the use of the guidelines. 4 The training of front-line responders is an important part of an early intervention phase. 5 There is, however, no evidence for the effectiveness of that strategy, especially for the non-specialist, and in settings in which mental health and psychosocial support is relatively novel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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