Psychosocial support vital to social intervention

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of National Security, Shauna Trowers says psychosocial support is vital to any form of intervention.

“We recognised that psychosocial support must be a main stake in any sort of intervention, so we’re not looking at intervention as a projectised approach it has to now th be institutionalised,” she made the comment during a panel discussion at the 10 Biennial Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Monday (June 17).

She noted that the Ministry of National Security’s Case Management officers continue to impact the lives of children who have been identified as at-risk.

“As they referred them to our case managers, some of them are trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is for the highest category of those who are affected by trauma. We have impacted a small number but it gives us great hope,” Trowers said.

She explained that in the last two years they have positively impacted 300 students and by extension, have assisted families experiencing post-traumatic stress through their case management methodology.

“We’ve actually gone to these students and used this methodology- then also going to the homes because it’s one thing to treat the post-traumatic stress for the student; but the student leaves the school and goes back home and that post-traumatic stress could also be in the family and we recognise that the family needs help. So yes, there is a very focused approach for crime prevention,” she emphasised.

Trowers further noted that these at-risk children also suffer from socio-economic issues such as delayed learning. However, she noted that the Ministry’s partnership with the Ministry of Education and Youth provides an opportunity to tackle and treat these aspects in the family.

“We’re looking at the individual but in healing the individual, we are seeking to affect the family and the community - then we’re expected that as we increase this sort of methodology, it will take time but we will see a systemic change in not only mental health, but how we do dispute resolution and addressing violence which ultimately will address some of the crime issues that we have,” Trowers explained.