Mental Health
Le programme de santé mentale de Zanmi Lasante vise à rendre les soins psychologiques accessibles, intégrés et dignes, partout où les besoins sont les plus criants. En misant sur une approche communautaire et multidisciplinaire, il lutte contre l’exclusion et les inégalités d’accès, pour faire de la santé mentale une composante essentielle de la santé publique en Haïti.
Our Impact
We fight injustice by making healthcare accessible to those who need it most.
-
+10,000patients enrolled in the program<p>XXX</p>
-
8,424consultation visits<p>XXX</p>
-
87%appointment attendance rate<p>XXX</p>
A comprehensive community model for the delivery of mental health services
One of Haiti’s greatest challenges is the lack of access to mental health care. After the 2010 earthquake, there were just five psychiatrists and one neurologist for a population of over 11 million. Only 4.5% of Haiti’s national budget was allocated to the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), with less than 1% allocated to mental health, making the availability of mental health services and specialists across the country very limited.
Zanmi Lasante (ZL) began providing mental health services to patients in 2005. Since then, ZL’s mental health team has expanded its scope in close collaboration with the MSPP to create a comprehensive community model for the delivery of mental health services. In 2012, ZL expanded its mental health program, offering adapted tools and protocols to various providers in five components of care delivery: depression, epilepsy, psychotic disorders and child and adolescent mental health.
The Program’s priorities:
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Psychotic disorders
- Child and adolescent mental health issues
- Community training and awareness
Program Development
Operating in 12 locations, the mental health program relies on psychologists, community health workers, nurses, and supervisors. It operates through a system of referrals, clinical consultations, home visits, educational sessions, and awareness-raising activities. Data is entered via OpenMRS and CommCare to track patients and improve performance.
Impact, Success, and Challenges
Total number of consultation visits to the mental health program (2023-2024).
Despite challenging circumstances, the mental health program managed to maintain its level of activity thanks to innovation and community engagement. Phone calls and home visits helped minimize the number of patients who dropped out of care.
The increase in the number of psychological interventions and the maintenance of a good adherence rate are positive signs. However, logistical challenges (fuel, access, insecurity) have hindered home visits and limited access to certain locations (Cange, Lascahobas). Stigma also remains a major barrier to accessing care.
Solon Jean Philippe, a 61-year-old father shattered by grief, has found a semblance of stability thanks to mental health support from Zanmi Lasante. Since November 2022, Solon has been supported by ZL’s mental health team.
I felt empty, unable to think or act. It was like living in a black hole. If you feel like you’re not doing well, don’t hide it. Talk about it. Seek help. Zanmi Lasante saved me.
Future Prospects and Innovations
- Improving the program’s integration into primary care
- Developing a strengthened electronic monitoring system at each site
- Recruiting clinical staff for sites with low coverage
- Providing ongoing training for community leaders on mental health
- Establishing support groups in schools and youth centers
Zanmi Lasante’s mental health program plays a fundamental role in the comprehensive care of patients. It ensures a clinical and community presence in an area that remains highly marginalized in Haiti. Continuing to strengthen this program is essential for an equitable and sustainable public health response.
