“The future of mental health in Libya”
1st National Conference for Libyan Mental Health Professionals
When: 4-5 July, 2012
Where: Misrata / Libya
The 1st national conference on Mental Health, post-revolution, took place on July 4-5, 2012 in Misrata, Libya under the theme "The Future of Mental Health in Libya".
It came up with the following recommendations:
1. Large scale psychosocial educational campaign is needed to combat stigma
2. Work with religious and local healers is important to promote and improve the practice of Islamic
mental health
3. Start interdisciplinary team approach to mental health is needed
4. Raise the ethical standards of practice of mental health professionals
5. Start high quality certification and licensure programs in Libya
6. Cooperate with world-class universities and treatment centers to improve mental health standards
7. Unite the many mental health teams working independently in Libya
8. Include psychosocial units in all government sectors
9. Raise awareness of the important rule of psychosocial professionals
10. Prepare and start applying realistic programs that deal with immediate crisis with focus on long-term improvement of mental health standards of the country
11. National reconciliation is a topic that needs to be always re-visited
12. Psychosocial professionals cannot engage in interrogation or torture procedures
13. Increase the number of inpatient units and in other cities than Tripoli and Benghazi
14. Focus on issues of PTSD, addiction and rape, also increase programs for children
15. Involve children with special needs in public schools and centers
16. Apply play and art therapy programs to school children
17. Provide parks, playgrounds and other avenues for relaxation
18. Work with international NGOs but encourage healing Libya through Libyan hands
19. Increase salaries for mental health professionals especially those willing to work in rural areas
20. Start anonymous hotline for psychosocial support and consultation
21. Exchange ideas and expertise between teams to prevent replicating efforts and reinventing the wheel
22. Revise academic curricula and focus on practical and hands-on aspects
23. Encourage the use of technology, psychological testing and mental health research
24. Provide opportunities for staff improvement through attending courses, CME activities and conferences inside and outside Libya
25. Start a national database to track admissions, discharges and medication dispense, also work towards inpatient units in general medical hospitals and open day treatment programs to reduce stigma and improve access to services.
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It came up with the following recommendations:
1. Large scale psychosocial educational campaign is needed to combat stigma
2. Work with religious and local healers is important to promote and improve the practice of Islamic
mental health
3. Start interdisciplinary team approach to mental health is needed
4. Raise the ethical standards of practice of mental health professionals
5. Start high quality certification and licensure programs in Libya
6. Cooperate with world-class universities and treatment centers to improve mental health standards
7. Unite the many mental health teams working independently in Libya
8. Include psychosocial units in all government sectors
9. Raise awareness of the important rule of psychosocial professionals
10. Prepare and start applying realistic programs that deal with immediate crisis with focus on long-term improvement of mental health standards of the country
11. National reconciliation is a topic that needs to be always re-visited
12. Psychosocial professionals cannot engage in interrogation or torture procedures
13. Increase the number of inpatient units and in other cities than Tripoli and Benghazi
14. Focus on issues of PTSD, addiction and rape, also increase programs for children
15. Involve children with special needs in public schools and centers
16. Apply play and art therapy programs to school children
17. Provide parks, playgrounds and other avenues for relaxation
18. Work with international NGOs but encourage healing Libya through Libyan hands
19. Increase salaries for mental health professionals especially those willing to work in rural areas
20. Start anonymous hotline for psychosocial support and consultation
21. Exchange ideas and expertise between teams to prevent replicating efforts and reinventing the wheel
22. Revise academic curricula and focus on practical and hands-on aspects
23. Encourage the use of technology, psychological testing and mental health research
24. Provide opportunities for staff improvement through attending courses, CME activities and conferences inside and outside Libya
25. Start a national database to track admissions, discharges and medication dispense, also work towards inpatient units in general medical hospitals and open day treatment programs to reduce stigma and improve access to services.
<< Back to events
