Liberia Center for Outcomes Research In Mental Health
Research
Enhancing Maternal Health and Child Well-being: Implementation of the Thinking Healthy Program in Liberia.
February 2019 | Brandon A. Kohrt, Byamah B. Mutamba, Nagendra P. Luitel, Wilfred Gwaikolo, Patrick Onyango Mangen Juliet Nakku, Kisa Rose, Janice Cooper, Mark J.D. Jordans & Florence Baingana
Evaluations to objectively assess minimum competency are not routinely implemented for training and supervision in global mental health. Addressing this gap in competency assessment is crucial for safe and effective mental health service integration in primary care.
How competent are non-specialists trained to integrate mental health services in primary care? Global health perspectives from Uganda, Liberia, and Nepal
February 2019 | Brandon A. Kohrt, Byamah B. Mutamba, Nagendra P. Luitel, Wilfred Gwaikolo, Patrick Onyango Mangen Juliet Nakku, Kisa Rose, Janice Cooper, Mark J.D. Jordans & Florence Baingana
Evaluations to objectively assess minimum competency are not routinely implemented for training and supervision in global mental health. Addressing this gap in competency assessment is crucial for safe and effective mental health service integration in primary care.
May 2019 | Rebecca Horn, Fiona O'May, Rebecca Esliker, Wilfred Gwaikolo, Lise Woensdregt, Leontien Ruttenberg and Alastair Ager
In emergencies and resource-poor settings, non-specialists are increasingly being trained to provide psychosocial support to people in distress, with Psychological First Aid (PFA) one of the most widely-used approaches.
September 2019 | O. Alonge, S. Sonkarlay, W. Gwaikolo, C. Fahim, J. L. Cooper & D. H. Peters
Efforts to systematically build responsible leadership and social capital at community level, including those that strengthen bonds in communities and trust across key actors in the health system, are needed to address health shocks like EVD outbreaks.
Aug. 2017 | Rose Kisa, Florence Baingana, Rehema Kajungu, Patrick O. Mangen, Mangesh Angdembe, Wilfred Gwaikolo & Janice Cooper
Access to mental health care services by persons living with severe mental disorders and epilepsy remains low in these three post conflict countries. The reasons contributing to it are multi-faceted ranging from systemic, familial, community and individual. It is imperative that policies and programming address: negative attitudes and stigma from health care workers and community, regular provision of medicines and other supplies, enhancement of health care workers skills. Ultimately reducing the accessibility gap will also require use of expert clients and families to strengthen the treatment coalition.
Upcoming Research Initiatives
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Efficacy of Crisis Intervention Teams in reducing stigma and discrimination and improving care
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Enhancing referral among traditional healers and religious leaders
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User advocacy and information dissemination programs (radio)
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Community based mental health care
Future Research Topics
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National prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders
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Psychotropic drugs effect determination
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National prevalence of open mole (cultural bound syndrome)
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Maternal depression and improved child outcomes
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Suicide in youth
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Peer support models in Liberia
July 2017 | Wilfred S. Gwaikolo, Brandon A. Kohrt & Janice L. Cooper
To develop and facilitate effective primary care mental health services in a post-conflict, low resource setting will require (1) addressing the knowledge and clinical skills gap in the primary care workforce; (2) improving physical infrastructure of health facilities at care delivery points; and (3) implementing concurrent interventions designed to improve attitudes towards people with mental illness, their family members and mental health care providers.
Individuals and Communities Recovering from Ebola in Liberia (Resilience in the Face of Tragedy)
An ODI Article
2015 | Nicola Jones, Janice Cooper, Elizabeth Presler-Marshall and David Walker
The life-long and intergenerational impacts of sexual violence in conflict
July 2014 | Ellen Zegura with Ellena D.
Over a four year time period, more than 140 clinicians have been trained in the use of the data reporting software, and more than 3000 valid reports have uploaded to the cloud. This participation has persisted despite significant technology challenges and little data feedback to clinicians.