C-TECH and OECS partner to launch new mental health resource to support 5000 frontline workers
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Education Center for Health (C-TECH) have launched a new mental health resource designed to support the psychological health and wellbeing of frontline workers. The project entitled: “Support and Education for Long Life through Frontline Workers CARE Project” – SELF CARE Project for short, is an expertly curated online hub of trusted mental health resources, information and webinars available to the over 5000 frontline workers in the OECS. Frontline workers include health care workers, social workers and teachers from across the nine countries and associated member in the Eastern Caribbean.
“Frontline workers are working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy during this unprecedented time, and they deserve support for their mental health now more than ever” said Dr Carlene Radix, Director of the OECS Health Unit. “That’s why we decided to engage C-TECH to provide this much needed support for the committed workforce who are going above and beyond during this time. This initiative will ensure that frontline workers across the OECS have access to relevant, quality resources to support their mental health and wellbeing.”
“C-TECH is pleased to be able to provide these resources to our health workforce in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on the collective mental health and wellbeing,” says Natalie Irving Mattocks, Executive Director of C-TECH. “This project will provide vitally-needed resources for frontline workers so they can easily find the mental health support they need in order to address their unique circumstances during and following the COVID-19 crisis and beyond”.
The launch took place during the margins of the OECS-USAID-UNICEF CEO Breakfast held in Grenada on September 14, 2022. C-TECH will provide reputable and evidence–based mental health resources designed to support workplace mental health and resilience for frontline workers responding to stressful environments. These resources include an AI-powered 24/7 mental health chat bot, 24-hour access to mental health assessments, with recommended steps to improve psychological wellbeing, monthly webinars focusing on strategies to take care of mental health and wellbeing and peer support, navigation to counseling and scheduling appointments for consultations with highly qualified therapists, as well as referral information for mental health institutions and service providers in the event of an emergency.
C-TECH has been providing this much needed mental health services in Jamaica since the start of the pandemic and recently received funding from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, to expand and launch the existing mental health programs and services in the OECS region.
For more information about the SELF Care Project, you can visit C-TECH’s website at ctech-caribbean.org/mental-health.
About C-TECH
The Caribbean Training and Education Center for Health (C-TECH) supports countries in the region in their efforts to successfully address health workforce and health system challenges. C-TECH has been implementing innovative, locally driven healthcare programmes in the Caribbean for the past 17 years, focusing on health systems strengthening, developing health workforces and strengthening the response for people with non-communicable diseases. C-TECH is an autonomous entity that is part of the International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) partner network
About the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
The Canada Fund Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) is a program supporting small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement. The program is directed at projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners. Projects are selected and approved by the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica. The CFLI also serves to support positive bilateral relations between Canada and recipient countries and their civil societies, by deepening contacts and supporting local endeavours.
