Evaluation of a Leadership in Mental Health course for Pacific Island Nation delegates

Pasifika Study Group: a child and adolescent mental health capacity building and leadership workshop with Pacific nations doctors and psychiatrists

OBJECTIVE

To describe the Pasifika Study Group (PSG), a biennial workshop for Pacific nations psychiatrists and doctors working in psychiatry under the auspices of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

METHOD

Since 2013 the PSG has brought together doctors and other health professionals from eight Pacific nations for a two-day study group.

RESULTS

On evaluation the PSG is considered informative and relevant and participants were generally confident of adapting the material to their own context.

CONCLUSION

The PSG demonstrates a successful approach to regional engagement in mental health in the Pacific region.

Creeping towards the mutual: lessons from a modest initiative to improve mental health systems capacity in Pacific Island nations

OBJECTIVE

To describe the evolution of the Leadership in Mental Health: Island Nations (LMH:IN) course.

METHOD

Using Transformation Theory the focus on Island Nations mental health capacity building through seven Creating Futures conferences is explored and directions for the future considered.

CONCLUSION

Experience and evaluation identify a set of key factors informing the ongoing development of the LMH:IN course.

The Vanuatu Psychiatry Mentorship Programme: supporting the development of a fledgling mental health service in the Pacific

OBJECTIVE

To describe the Vanuatu Psychiatry Mentorship Programme (VPMP) set up to support the sole mental health doctor and local nurses developing mental health service capacity in Vanuatu.

METHOD

Following a request from Vanuatu, the VPMP was set up under the auspices of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (the College) with three components: regular online supervision, yearly onsite visits and advice over the Internet on an as-required basis.

RESULTS

Onsite visits undertaken by three VPMP psychiatrists provided opportunities for mentoring and teaching activities related to clinical psychiatry, community liaison, social and ethical considerations and mental health policy matters. Online supervision sessions were initially hampered by technology difficulties. Ad hoc advice over the Internet allowed more rapid responses in complex acute psychiatry cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured mentoring programmes can play a role in supporting the development of mental health capacity in low-resourced Pacific nations. Such programmes are likely to be more useful for Pacific participants if they are flexible, ongoing, sustained by support from the College and reviewed regularly.