Why I Train Grandmothers To Treat Depression
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Why I Train Grandmothers To Treat Depression | Dixon Chibanda
A Summary and Reaction
Chibanda being a psychiatrist has tried his best to help people despite the challenge of the long distance away from the patients. He experienced a problem where the patient called Erica was released from the hospital but did not go to see him as he had advised her. Unfortunately, after three weeks Erica committed suicide which haunted Chibanda one month later because Erica was not able to see him for care due to lack of finances to cater to traveling expenses. There are many people with depression which contributes to suicide in many developing countries. The mental health professional is very few where the ratio is one psychiatrist to take care of 1.5 million citizens and some countries do not have even one psychiatrist. Chibanda in finding a solution to the problem trained grandmothers in evidence-based talk therapy which they were to offer free of charge. This made mental health services affordable and effective targeting to reach major cities all over the world.
Depression should be taken care of immediately because it makes even people who appear cheerful to end their lives if there is no one to solve the problem. When Erica killed herself, Chibanda realized that there was an urgency to solve the problems of the ordinary people in Zimbabwe. Chibanda had confidence with the grandmothers even if their level of education was low, he believed the idea of training them would work and finally it was successful. The grandmothers would use the language that the patients could understand in addition to the training Chibanda provided. The grandmothers worked tirelessly, for example, the 72-year-old Chinhoyi who could not even recall the number of patients she treated daily with different issues. Chinhoyi would guide the patients regardless of where they came from or circumstances until she finds a solution to their problems. The follow-ups by the grandmothers were very important to solve the issues completely and ensure the patients follow the instructions provided.