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Breaking the Taboo on Mental Health By Annan Boodram |
New York, December 2001: Going by its name, one would not associate the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center as an institution with any kind of focus on the Caribbean community. But that is precisely what the hospitals' Caribbean Community Mental Health Program(CCMHP) is about.
Started in June last year with a grant from the New York City Department of Mental Health, CCMHP "is specifically designed to fit the medical, psychiatric and social needs of the Caribbean community" according to one of the hospital's leaflet.
As part of city wide mental health initiative, the program was offered for bidding and Kingsbrook won out perhaps because this institution is located in the heart of Brooklyn's Caribbean community. 90% of the hospital's African patients have Caribbean backgrounds explained Haitian born Chantal Pierre-Louis, who, until recently, was the program's Director of Advocacy Services. She has been replaced by another Haitian, Martine Cesaire-Francois.
According to Ms. Pierre-Louis, "studies indicate that Caribbeans do not seek regular mental health care. Rather they wait until there is a crisis".
With the above attitude in mind CCMPH was formulated on a two fold basis: advocacy service and clinical service.
Ms Pierre-Louis said that advocacy includes a range of services, among them such issues as entitlement benefits, housing and immigration problems. The idea is to eliminate barriers toseeking mental health care.
The advocacy component of the program visits schools, colleges, religious institutions and other avenues where the people can be reached in order to both sensitize them to the program and address concerns that may prevent them from accessing the available services.
Trinidadian born child psychologist, Sharon Gopaul-McNichols, the program's Clinical Director stated that one of their main goal is to change attitudes towards mental health. She explained that people don't admit to serious mental health problems but that such problems often manifest as physical health ones. For example depression can lead to bodily pains and anxiety can cause severe headaches.
Ms. McNichols added that in addition to meeting the people at places where they assemble, CCMPH also works hand in glove with the legal system. Caribbeans are being charged with child abuse, she stated. But giving children a few licks is a cultural thing for Caribbeans and the courts would often refer those charged to the program.
CCMPH is the first program of its kind started with a government grant. This grant is renewable every three years up to nine or twelve years and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center hopes to get the renewal each time it comes up. But in an effort not to be dependent only on the city grant the program has started exploring other avenues of financing, especially since it is viewed as long term rather than temporary by the hospital.
According to Larrick Lubin, second generation Caribbean-American and Outreach Worker for the CCMPH, the program has been doing quite well.
"More and more people have been coming to us," he said. "The program has been praised by Caribbean officials."