One of the great challenges Gede has faced over the last 6-12 months has been focused on evolving our own core competencies as we engage with leading agencies in order to undertake the large prevalence study of common mental disorders in a sample of over 1000 people living positively with HIV-AIDS. One of the key challenges has been focused on addressing the rigours required for undertaking a peer reviewed piece of research – which has included ensuring that the protocol itself passes the process of ethical review with flying colours. At the time of writing, Gede is putting the finishing touches to the document which will be submitted to the Ethical Review Board of our partners, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. Watch this space!
NACA technical Working Group Sub-Committee on Mental Health
Today, Gede hosted and Co-Chaired the NACA technical Working Group Sub-Committee on Mental Health which has been tasked with identifying ways in which common mental disorders can be integrated into HIV-AIDS care and support throughout Nigeria. As part of this work, the Sub-Committee has considered various options which will be presented to NACA ‘in full’ later in the year and will then (if approved) be integrated into existing toolkits. As has been shown in various studies, not integrating mental health screening/treatment/referral into HIV-AIDS care and support has significant negative impact on issues such as treatment adherence, the risk of new infections and health seeking behaviour in general. Watch this space for further updates on this important initiative
Psychosocial interventions to accelerate internal security of Nigerian communities
On Wednesday February 25, Gede held the fourth session in its 2015 Mental Health Dialogue Programme.
Mrs Chioma Igboegwu, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and President for the Agency for African Families in Distress, delivered a highly interactive session on ‘psychological interventions to break the cycle of violence and accelerate internal security and development of Nigerian communities’.
As can be seen from the photographs, 25 organizations participated in an interactive session which generated lively discussion around a number of key issues related to the psychological impact on individuals and communities of violence and conflict. Gede’s next Mental Health Dialogue Programme session will be held on Wednesday March 11 2015 11.00-13.00 and will feature a presentation on ‘Depression Disorders’
Updates on the Prevalence Study Project (PSP)
Gede Foundation and The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) signed the letter of agreement on February 12, 2015 to conduct the Prevalence Study on Depression, Alcohol Use, and Suicide Among the HIV Population in Abuja. The first of its kind involving a large sample size (n=1,200) in Nigeria, the study is aimed at documenting the relationship between common mental disorders and HIV, comparing cohorts from 3 treatment sites that are at different stages of the disease and who are either undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) or are under care and monitoring, as well as some sociodemographic characteristics.
Submission of the research protocol will be done this week. Preparations for site visits, hiring of interviewers, and logistics requirements have been scheduled for the next two weeks. Training of interviewers is expected by mid-March and data collection will be in April.
Establishing the link between mental health conditions and HIV is a first step towards the ultimate goal of integrating mental health into HIV care and support regimes.
Meeting with RISE Global Health Initiative
Today, February 19 2015, members of Gede’s Senior Management Team met Dr Chinyelu Menakaya, Development Director of the RISE Global Health Initiative (based in San Diego, USA) which is pioneering the delivery of a package of comprehensive health care in Anambra State, Nigeria, with other States to follow.
A significant element of RISE’s approach to comprehensive health care is the engagement of ‘Tele-HIV’ and members of the Nigerian diaspora (who provide training and mentoring expertise where appropriate) aimed at providing online support (as well as through innovative teaching apps) to those health professionals tasked with care and support. The courtesy visit also focused on discussing ways in which the mental health ‘treatment gap’ in Nigeria might also be filled through the use of ICT and expertise within the diaspora.
Watch this space for additional news in future.
Gede Foundation and the World Bank HAF-2 Programme
As an implementing partner to the World Bank's HAF-2 Programme (aimed at raising awareness about HIV-AIDS), Gede recently held a number of Peer Educators' Meetings which engaged a range of IEC materials in relation to HIV and STI prevention, condom packaging messages and additional information regarding the importance of referrals and testing services.
Although the Programme aims to reach 3000 adults in Ibadan North East and North West Local Government Areas in 2015, each session is relatively small in number (10 per group) in order to ensure that messages are received and assessed in an appropriate manner, with in depth feedback and clarification where needed. For further information about HAF-2 please contact poshadami@gedefoundation.org
IHVN and Gede Agreement
Gede Foundation Managing Director, John Minto, and IHVN CEO, Dr. Patrick Dakum, signing a letter of agreement between the two organizations.
Today, the Gede Foundation signed a Letter of Agreement with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN - http://ihvnigeria.org/ihvnweb/webnew/) which will govern the work the two agencies undertake in relation to the large prevalence survey of depression, alcohol abuse disorder and suicidality among people living positively with HIV-AIDS in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. The survey (to be undertaken in 2015) represents the first stage in a project which will eventually see the integration of common mental disorders into HIV-AIDS care and support.
The initiative has also engaged major partners and collaborators such as the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Network of People Living With HIV-AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN). Watch this space (www.gedefoundation.org) for updates on the prevalence survey of 1200 people living positively which will start later this month.
Mental Health Issues in Crisis Situations
Gede’s Mental Health Dialogue Programme of the 11th February, 2015 was led by Ms Sade Samuel from New Beginnings Birth Centre. She gave a fascinating presentation on the importance of mental health in crisis situations within a clinical setting. She conducted a guided facilitation session where participants were made to put themselves in real life crisis scenario.
Through this exercise, she was able to bring out in the individuals present the various mental health issues which are often experienced in a crisis situation in clinical settings such as fear, anger, anxiety, shock, collapse, sadness, confusion, panic among others.
There was a general consensus thereafter that people who had suffered or experienced one crisis or the other needed psychosocial support by trained professionals in order to be mentally stable.
Those present noted the importance of ensuring that such services should, in an ideal world, always be available, especially in clinical settings. However, note was made of the 'treatment gap' in many low and middle income countries where the number of people needing mental health treatment is not matched by the number of those available to provide it. Gede's work in training HIV-AIDS Adherence Counsellors re mental health was seen as an important step in the right direction.
Mental Health Working Group Meeting
Today, the Gede Foundation Co-Chaired the latest meeting of NACA’s (National Agency for the Control of AIDS) Technical Working Group Sub-Committee on Mental Health, tasked with developing ways in which mental health (focusing mainly on depression, substance abuse and other neurological challenges often faced by people living positively with HIV-AIDS) can be practically integrated into HIV-AIDS care and support. The Sub-Committee has six months to investigate a range of initiatives and will then report back to NACA’s Technical Working Group on the option(s) which can be implemented most effectively into the daily, routine activities of those tasked with HIV-AIDS care and support. Gede’s role on the sub-Committee places the Foundation of cutting edge policy development within the context of HIV-AIDS care and support in Nigeria. Sub-Committee meetings will continue to be covered on the website blog page
Mental Health and Behavior Change
On the 28th January 2015, the latest presentation in Gede’s Mental Health Dialogue Programme was focused on ‘relating behavioral change with mental health’. Over 20 attendees listened to the presentation given by Professor Andrew Zamani, Dean of the Social Science Faculty at Nasarawa State University and currently President of the Association of Psychologists in Nigeria.
Professor Zamani highlighted the roles of behavior change in achieving mental health through the following lenses: conceptual issues, diagnostic criteria, consequences of mental impairment and behavior change imperatives.
It was noted during the session that, in promoting mental health, intervention indices should go beyond the cultural and scientific definitions of abnormal behaviors which are mostly symptom-based, but include enhancement of protective factors and promotion of healthy lifestyle in addition to effective treatment pathways. His presentation was followed by a lively Q and A session. Gede’s next Mental Health Dialogue Programme presentation will be held at the Foundation on the 11th February 2015 and will be delivered by Sylvia Christybelle on the Ray of Hope Foundation’s initiatives on Mental Health.