Mental Health E Training Platform

INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH E-TRAINING.

What is Mental Health

Mental Health is a state of Wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2005).

This mental health e-training is meant to guide mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders among health care workers in various health settings. These workers are such as doctors, nurses, clinical officer, counsellors, nutritionists, psychologists and all other professionals in the health team. The intervention guide explains the integrated management of priority MNS conditions for clinical decision making.

In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder. The number increases to one in every four people among patients attending routine outpatient services. Depression and anxiety disorders are the leading mental illnesses diagnosed in Kenya, followed by substance use disorders. Among the different types of substances, alcohol contributes to the largest burden of substance use related illnesses in Kenya. Of great concern alcohol abuse is most prevalent in the 18-29-year-old age group.

Significance of Mental Health E-Training

The Mental Health E-Training is being developed with the objective of scaling up care for MNS disorders. Studying of MH prepares you to:

• Assess mental conditions such as depression, psychoses, anxiety, PTSD, dementia, child and adolescent mental behavioral, epilepsy, self-harm and suicide, and disorders due to substance abuse.
• Manage all the mental conditions.
• Follow up patients and caregivers with these mental conditions.
• Refer appropriately to specialist those patients that require specialized care.

Mental Health Conditions being Addressed

Priority conditions were identified based on the criteria that they represented a high burden (in terms of mortality, morbidity and disability), resulted in large economic costs or were associated with violations of human rights. These priority conditions which have been classified as 9 modules include depression, psychoses, self-harm/suicide, epilepsy, dementia, disorders due to substance use and mental and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.