Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Children Living with HIV in Cameroon’s Northwest Region
In Bamenda, Cameroon, a one-week workshop is underway to address a critical issue facing many children and adolescents living with HIV – their mental health. Organized by the Children Momentum Project, under the supervision of the HIV Regional Technical Group, RTG, for Northwest, this training session brings together service providers from 16 different facilities to learn new skills and strategies for supporting the mental wellbeing of their children and adolescents living with HIV.
“Depression and other mental health challenges are all too common among children and teens living with HIV,” explains Dr. Jude, the RTG Coordinator overseeing the workshop. “It can significantly impact their ability to adhere to treatment and live a normal, healthy life. That’s why addressing this issue head-on is so important.”
Recent studies have found that 31-44% of patients in general hospital settings with HIV suffer from mental health conditions. Additionally, around 20% of adolescents living with HIV report symptoms of depression yearly. “We recognized the significant impact that mental health challenges can have on the lives of children and adolescents living with HIV. The connections between mental health, physical health, and treatment adherence are undeniable,” says Mr Ngwen Frankline, the Mental Health Supervisor for the CBC Health Services. “This training is an important step in ensuring that service providers are equipped to properly screen, intervene and refer these patients for the care they need, thus making a real difference in their lives”.
After discussing the unique mental health challenges faced by this population, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and the psychosocial impacts of living with HIV, the training focused on equipping service providers with the skills to utilize a revised mental health assessment tool, tailored to the specific needs of these children and adolescents. The objective was to improve the understanding and application of mental health screening tools, enabling providers to properly identify and manage mental disorders and issues in these children. The training also emphasized the importance of proper referrals and the provision of appropriate interventions. Participants learned to recognize the signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions, understand the referral pathways, and interpret assessment results effectively.
One service provider, Mme Shei Enny, shared her perspective on the workshop’s impact. “The training has been invaluable. I now have a deeper understanding of the mental health challenges faced by our young children living with HIV, and I feel better equipped to provide the necessary interventions and referrals to ensure they receive the support they need”.
“Our goal is to equip these providers with the knowledge and skills to improve the overall well-being of children and adolescents on HIV treatment,” Mr. Ngwen explains. “Better mental health means better physical health outcomes and quality of life”.
The workshop is part of the Children Momentum Project’s broader efforts to contribute to epidemic control among children and adolescents by empowering service providers. By addressing the critical issue of mental health, the project aims to not only improve the lives of children and adolescents living with HIV but also to support the overall national goal of the HIV response of attaining epidemic control in the Northwest and Cameroon.
Mental health management remains an essential step in helping those living with HIV and with the array of seasoned mental health professionals who facilitated the training, the service providers are well equipped to help the children and adolescents they attend to.