Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorYoder, Hélène N C
dc.contributor.authorTol, Wietse A
dc.contributor.authorReis, Ria
dc.contributor.authorde Jong, Joop T V M
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:04:21Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:04:21Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background This study complements the growing amount of research on the psychosocial impact of war on children in Sierra Leone by examining local perceptions of child mental health, formal and informal care systems, help-seeking behaviour and stigma. Methods The study combined: (1) a nationwide survey of mental health care providers, with (2) exploratory qualitative research among service users and providers and other stakeholders concerned with child and adolescent mental health, with a particular emphasis on local explanations and stigma. Results Formal mental health care services are extremely limited resulting in an estimated treatment gap of over 99.8 %. Local explanations of child mental health problems in Sierra Leone are commonly spiritual or supernatural in nature, and associated with help-seeking from traditional healers or religious institutions. There is a considerable amount of stigma related to mental disorders, which affects children, their caregivers and service providers, and may lead to discrimination and abuse. Conclusions Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) care development in Sierra Leone should cater to the long-term structural effects of war-violence and an Ebola epidemic. Priorities for development include: (1) the strengthening of legal structures and the development of relevant policies that strengthen the health system and specifically include children and adolescents, (2) a clearer local distinction between children with psychiatric, neurological, developmental or psychosocial problems and subsequent channelling into appropriate services (3) supplementary CAMH training for a range of professionals working with children across various sectors, (4) specialist training in CAMH, (5) integration of CAMH care into primary health care, education and the social welfare system, (6) further research on local explanations of child mental disorders and the effect they have on the well-being of the child, and (7) a careful consideration of the role of religious healers as care providers.
dc.identifier.apacitationYoder, H. N. C., Tol, W. A., Reis, R., & de Jong, J. T. V. M. (2016). Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study. <i>International Journal of Mental Health Systems</i>, 10(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationYoder, Hélène N C, Wietse A Tol, Ria Reis, and Joop T V M de Jong "Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study." <i>International Journal of Mental Health Systems</i> 10, 1. (2016): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationYoder, H.N.C., Tol, W.A., Reis, R. & de Jong, J.T.V.M. 2016. Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study. <i>International Journal of Mental Health Systems.</i> 10(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1752-4458
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Yoder, Hélène N C AU - Tol, Wietse A AU - Reis, Ria AU - de Jong, Joop T V M AB - Abstract Background This study complements the growing amount of research on the psychosocial impact of war on children in Sierra Leone by examining local perceptions of child mental health, formal and informal care systems, help-seeking behaviour and stigma. Methods The study combined: (1) a nationwide survey of mental health care providers, with (2) exploratory qualitative research among service users and providers and other stakeholders concerned with child and adolescent mental health, with a particular emphasis on local explanations and stigma. Results Formal mental health care services are extremely limited resulting in an estimated treatment gap of over 99.8 %. Local explanations of child mental health problems in Sierra Leone are commonly spiritual or supernatural in nature, and associated with help-seeking from traditional healers or religious institutions. There is a considerable amount of stigma related to mental disorders, which affects children, their caregivers and service providers, and may lead to discrimination and abuse. Conclusions Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) care development in Sierra Leone should cater to the long-term structural effects of war-violence and an Ebola epidemic. Priorities for development include: (1) the strengthening of legal structures and the development of relevant policies that strengthen the health system and specifically include children and adolescents, (2) a clearer local distinction between children with psychiatric, neurological, developmental or psychosocial problems and subsequent channelling into appropriate services (3) supplementary CAMH training for a range of professionals working with children across various sectors, (4) specialist training in CAMH, (5) integration of CAMH care into primary health care, education and the social welfare system, (6) further research on local explanations of child mental disorders and the effect they have on the well-being of the child, and (7) a careful consideration of the role of religious healers as care providers. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - International Journal of Mental Health Systems LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 1752-4458 T1 - Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study TI - Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationYoder HNC, Tol WA, Reis R, de Jong JTVM. Child mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 2016;10(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34488.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume10
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13033-016-0080-8
dc.subject.otherSierra Leone
dc.subject.otherChildren
dc.subject.otherAdolescents
dc.subject.otherMental health
dc.subject.otherServices
dc.subject.otherHealing
dc.titleChild mental health in Sierra Leone: a survey and exploratory qualitative study
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
YoderHlneNC_Child_mental_he_2016.pdf
Size:
968.96 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles