The mental health patients project concludes a course for psychologists in the Gaza governorates

Gaza, Publication and Information Unit:

The mental health patients project at the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution today concluded an eight-day training course with the participation of a group of psychologists representing the Centre's partner associations on the project. The course was held at the Valencia restaurant in Gaza City.

In this connection, the coordinator of the mental health patients project at the Centre, Rabie Hamouda, said: "Training psychologists aims to give them skills in mobilisation and advocacy as well as in outreach and in how to deal with mental health patients," explaining that the training is delivered in partnership with the International Medical Corps (IMC) and in cooperation with a number of partner associations in the Gaza governorates.

Hamouda explained that the specialists will have the ability to manage their dealings with patients and to provide psychological support by modern methods, and that the participants are encouraged to offer the best solutions to patients' problems. He noted that the trainers who took part in the course helped give the participants new expertise in the field of psychological support, running activities and supporting mental health patients in the future.

It is worth noting that, according to official statistics and a study, the number of mental health patients in the Gaza Strip up to the end of last October was around 17,000.