Mental Health International Development (MHID) announces fiveforum members have completed an initial two-week intensive training tobecome Peer Leaders.  At the first meeting of the year in January 2007, members were discussed what their Action Plans for the year would be.  Oneof the topics discussed and agreed upon was an increase topsychological and counselling services. Counselling Psychologist ThomasSobel created and developed an individualized two-week training courseto teach basic listening skills to seven interested forum members.  Participating forum members included a lawyer, a university professor, an incense maker, a priest, and three service users.

 

With the assistance of MHID Director, Professor Ray Rowden; Mr. Sobel worked personally and intensely with the forum members.  Thisprogramme included classroom instruction, and relied heavily onpersonal experiences from forum members, role playing exercises, andpractice of skills on volunteers from the community.  Mr.Sobel supervised all forum members closely, and the volunteers weredebriefed afterwards to ensure no psychological stress occurred due totheir participation.

 

The goal of the two-weektraining was to discuss cultural differences, discuss basic listeningskills, provide proper knowledge of skill sets, and practical trainingand experience using skills taught.  Initially, in aneffort to gain confidence and practice their skills, it was agreed thatthey would only offer their Peer Leadership services to family membersand other members of the forum.  Forum members will continue to receive regular ongoing support from Mr. Sobel via email.  Mr.Sobel will return to India to continue to monitor progress of PeerLeaders and offer them addition listening skills with the goal of PeerLeaders being able to offer their services to people in theircommunities that would like someone to talk to about their concerns.