BVI News

Programme launched to provide psychosocial support amid crises

The Ministry of Health & Social Development has launched an initiative entitled ‘Bounce Back Stronger’ which will focus on strengthening the mental health and psychosocial support in the territory.

The programme was originally designed to deal with the mental impact caused by the 2017 hurricanes but later incorporated the impact from the COVID-19 virus.

Speaking at the launching ceremony recently, Minister for Health, Carvin Malone said the programme comes at a vital time with the BVI in the midst of an active hurricane season while battling against COVID-19.

“As we face another hurricane season, it is easy for us to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and uncertain. The BVI-PAHO mental health and psychosocial support project has recognized the need to provide mental health and psychosocial support and build resilience in the country not only for natural disasters, as initially planned, but also to develop capacities to alleviate the mental health impacts of COVID-19,” the minister stated.

“The project has developed and incorporated an adapted component specifically to address the mental health and psychosocial needs resulting from the pandemic. This component will include the training of diverse local stakeholders to support themselves and their communities in the face of any disaster we may face, be it a hurricane, COVID-19, or whatever may come,” he added.

COVID-19 incorporated into national disaster planning

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health Dr Irad Potter said the ministry continues to integrate COVID-19 into the territory’s national disaster plans.

“The project has been adapted to allow for responses for COVID to be integrated into all of the capacity-building opportunities and therefore we have now adapted all of the training to be virtual,” he said.

He continued: “We have, to date, virtual focus groups and we have retooled and refashioned the communication campaigns that were developed after 2017 to incorporate responses for COVID.”

The programme is a joint venture between the BVI government and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and is being financed by the Caribbean Development Bank.

Shares

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

2 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. down2earth says:

    ‘Bounce back stronger’? ‘BVI Strong’? We aren’t tired flying in the face of He who created all things? You who have the pen/pencil,put your brain to work and stop coming with these empty, feel-good slangs!(I’m not making any suggestions because whoever can do better if they only try.)

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  2. Well sah says:

    Government aint tired of wasting money on foolishness.

Leave a Reply

Shares