Crisis Support Forum

Title: A WhatsApp virtual community of practice: Mental health education and support for practitioners during the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon

Investigators:

  • Sarah Burris, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto
  • Kamila Pacholek, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto
  • Madalina Prostean, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Lynn Cockburn, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Julius Nganji, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto
  • Ms. Anya Nadege, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
  • Dr. Louis Mbibeh, Independent Researcher

Year of Study: 2019-2020

Description

This graduate research project for the department of OS&OT is a continuation of the 2019 Crisis Support Forum project (renamed The Forum).

A virtual community of practice (VCoP) called The Forum was created on WhatsApp Messenger to provide support and mental health education to providers in the North West Regions (NWR) of Cameroon during the ongoing Anglophone crisis.

This graduate research study explored Forum members’ experiences. Qualitative research methods, specifically thematic analysis were used to examine 13 semi-structured interviews, five themes were identified: (a) WhatsApp as a VCoP, (b) becoming a CoP, (c) clinical utility, (d) deeper connection, and (e) selfcare. This study reports on experiences in The Forum and its value, and will inform future iterations and other clinicians, educators, and researchers creating similar VCoPs.

Publications and Reports

From this research project, two articles were written for submission, publication is pending at this time.

  • Burris, S., Pacholek, K., Prostean, M., Cockburn, L., Nganji, J., Anya, N., & Mbibeh, L. (Submitted). A WhatsApp virtual community of practice: Mental health education and support for practitioners during the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon.
  • Pacholek, K., Prostean, M., Burris, S., Cockburn, L., Nganji, J., Nadege, A., Mbibeh, L. (Submitted). A WhatsApp Community Forum for Improving Critical Thinking and Practice Skills of Mental Health Providers in a Conflict Zone.

Funder and Acknowledgements: ICDR-Cameroon is providing funds for part-time project coordinator.

Title: 2019 Crisis Support Forum

Investigators:

  • Dr. Lynn Cockburn, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto,
  • Ms. Anya Nadege, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
  • Dr. Godlove Ndongndeh, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
  • Dr. Louis Mbibeh, Independent Researcher

Year of Study: 2019

Description

The 2019 Crisis Support Forum began in March 2019, and is running for at least 6 months (ot August 2019).

This WhatsApp group forum seeks to create a place for learning, information sharing, professional development, and professional support for front line workers in the North West Regions (NWR) of Cameroon. Most of the approximately 50 members of the forum are in the NWR, and some are out in other parts of Cameroon and internationally.

Crisis Support (CS) coordinators introduce and facilitate topics which are discussed over one week. Topics include self-care, trauma and culturally ibased, trauma informed services, and resources available in the NWR. Members are free to post whenever they can within the week and as much as possible.

To remain a member of the forum, members are expected to post at least twice a week for community discussion to be enriching to all members.

Publications and Reports: TBD
Funder and Acknowledgements: ICDR-Cameroon is providing funds for part-time project coordinator.

Title: 2018 Crisis Support Forum for Health and Social Services Providers in the North West Region of Cameroon: A Pilot Project

Investigators:

  • Dr. Lynn Cockburn, Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto,
  • Ms. Anya Nadege, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
  • Dr. Godlove Ndongndeh, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
  • Dr. Louis Mbibeh, Independent Researcher

Year of Study: 2018

Description

This was an informal project. Through WhatsApp communication, the six-week Crisis Forum Pilot Project (CFPP) sought to address the needs outlined below and to provide a path for people living outside of the NWR to be of some assistance.

Background: Due to the ongoing violent crisis in the North West Region (NWR) of Cameroon, health care and social services providers had very little support for the important and dangerous work that they were doing. Providers were overwhelmingly dealing with cases of injury and trauma from the crisis, ranging from emotional, physical, financial and spiritual suffering. Providers had reported struggles in maintaining themselves and supporting their colleagues that were suffering violent-based trauma. As there was little support from international humanitarian organizations in the region, providers were seeking moral and professional support from others.

What we did: Over the course of the first week, daily discussions surrounded two primary components:

  1. opportunities to discuss concrete information about what to do as providers, to deal with the many trauma and mental health issues that are evident; and
  2. sharing moral and professional support to providers in the NWR who were having to deal with daily traumas and difficulties in their workplaces and lives generally.

The CFPP was able to support approximately 30 providers (MH workers, Community Based Rehabilitation workers, nurses, social workers, surgery theatre nurses, emergency unit workers) from various workplaces in the NWR who were dealing with trauma and mental health issues in their work with clients, their colleagues, and themselves.

The second part of the CFPP included mentorship and support where WhatsApp groups were smaller, consisting of 2 to 5 members. During the week, each person was in a small group of NWR providers matched with 1-2 “mentors”, who offered support to each other.

The expectation was a daily check-in for about 30 minutes during the first week (or more if they had the time), and then once a week for about 4 weeks after, each small group would have a longer chat within their smaller group. The expectation was just that this small group would meet for about one month

The pilot project was found to be quite successful and many participants asked for it to be continued.

Publications and Reports: 
Funder and Acknowledgements: Not funded. Each person provided their own time and internet access.

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