Vanuatu: happiest nation on earth, mental health and the Church.

Publisher: Sage Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9613603 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1440-1665 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10398562 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Australas Psychiatry Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2012- : London : Sage
Original Publication: Carlton, VIC : Blackwell Science

Health Services Needs and Demand* ; Pastoral Care* ; Surveys and Questionnaires*; Mental Health Services/*statistics & numerical data; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Religion and Medicine ; Vanuatu

Objective: The aim of this paper was to gain an understanding of the mental health needs and services in Vanuatu, and examine the importance of the Church in the lives of the local people and the part that the Church can play in mental health service delivery.
Method: The author visited Vanuatu to gain an understanding of the mental health needs and services in Vanuatu. This was followed by interaction with a number of churches to find out the views of church leaders about mental illness and their interest to learn about mental illness. A questionnaire was completed by 80 individuals who were also involved in some training.
Results: There was a widely held view that mental illness was due to a weak faith, sin or demon possession. However, there is a desire and an interest among churches to have a better understanding about mental illness.
Conclusion: Churches in Vanuatu can and need to be mobilized to make mental health service delivery successful in the country.

Date Created: 20100209 Date Completed: 20100428 Latest Revision: 20151119

20240829

10.3109/10398560903298752

20136535