Mental Health Provider to Assist in Stricken Nation
One of New Zealand’s largest mental health providers is sending an advance party to Sri Lanka to help develop counseling
and psychiatric support services for tsunami survivors.
Richmond Fellowship’s Wellington area manager, Maurice Dodson, a former Chief of General Staff for the New Zealand Army,
will travel to Sri Lanka with senior psychologist Mark Rosario to make an on-the-ground assessment of mental health
services.
The 10-day fact-finding mission is expected to lead to the deployment of a specialist support team for tsunami survivors
and the families of victims.
Richmond Fellowship New Zealand hopes to work with NZAID to develop an on-going international support project for its
sister organisation, Richmond Fellowship Lanka, including training for counselors dealing with post traumatic stress
disorder and displaced young people, and other priorities yet to be identified.
Richmond’s chief executive, Dr Gerry Walmisley, says the immediate aim is to complete a detailed evaluation of the needs
and priorities in Lanka, and to advise as to how best Richmond Fellowship New Zealand can assist.
“We understand that there is an urgent need for training for local Richmond Fellowship staff and possibly other mental
health professionals, however it’s difficult to gain an accurate picture of exactly what the needs are or how we might
respond.
“NZAID may support future projects but we need an assessment of the situation on the ground. There is an increasing
awareness of the psychological impact of this tragedy in South East Asia, and it’s likely that assistance will be needed
for years to come.”
Richmond Fellowship New Zealand
Richmond Fellowship is a major provider of community health and support services throughout New Zealand. The Fellowship
has developed specialist services for a range of purchasers including the Ministry of Health, Crown Public Health, Child
Youth and Family Service and District Health Boards. Services include support programmes for people with mental,
psychiatric or psychological illness, respite and emergency support, consumer based drop-in services, specialist youth
services and dual diagnosis services (including intellectual disability/mental illness).