WHO Collaborating Centre at the Douglas institute sometimes receives testimonials from colleagues visiting the countries with which it works.

From Belize

"Dear Dr Laporta,

I was able to witness first hand the astounding changes that have occured in Belize since the arrival in 1995 of the principal psychiatrist for Belize, Dr. Claudina Cayetano. These changes represent a very open collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Dr. Cayetano. They include:

• changes in legislation that have led to the decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts
• the implementation of community mental health services in all the districts of Belize
• the training of psychiatric nurse practioners as first line workers
• the implementation of a computer-based charting and prescription system
• the closing down of the country's asylum
• the integration of psychiatric hospital services within general community hospitals.

As well, the country has seen the founding of both the Belize Mental Health Association and Consumer Advocacy groups.  I was able to visit 4 regional hospitals (San Ignaciao, Dangria, Belmopan, and Belize city) which house public mental health services. As well I was able to work alongside the Community Treatment Team (ACT) in Belize City, and visited private clinics in Belmopan and Belize City.

The entire trip was inspirational. The services implemented in this country within a short time period is a testament to the vision of the Ministry of Health, and to the tireless dedication and advocacy of Dr. Cayetano.

- Dr. Carol Brebion, psychiatrist at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Montreal

From Haiti

"Camp L'Espwa is a camp for internally displaced persons from the January 2010 earthquake. It is located in a village called Fond Parisien in eastern Haiti, close to the border with the Dominican Republic.

Immediately after the earthquake, the Love a Child orphanage and health ministry began to accept injured persons onto their compound in Fond Parisien. The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) opened a field hospital and they were soon joined by another group, Hands of Light in Action (HOLIA), which provided mainly physiotherapy. Due to the large number of individuals who would come to join their injured family members in the hospital, a large camp was started nearby to house people, Camp L'Espwa ("Camp Hope" in Créole). It  now has between 1,200 to 1,500 residents, most of whom were in the earthquake and all of whom experienced loss due to the earthquake.

Until July of 2010, there was very sporadic and almost non-existent mental health services in the camp. I volunteered with HOLIA, as HHI was not initially sure if they had the resources to provide mental health services to the camp. During my 6 weeks working in Camp L'Espwa, I was able to see approximately 15 individuals experiencing post-traumatic symptoms and depression. Follow-up was provided by training of the camp nurses in basic mental health interventions and psycho-social support. Additionally, a psycho-social support group was started for men and another for women, which met on a bi-weekly basis for 5 of the 6 weeks I was there. From those groups, eight members were trained to continue leading psycho-social groups for the community.

HHI decided in late July that they did want to provide mental health services in the camp and they have hired a psychologist to do a rapid health needs assessment, and based on the results, to continue providing services. This will provide countless benefits to the camp individuals. As of this point, the psychosocial support groups for the women continue to run and the rapid health needs assessment has been performed, with results pending."

-Lori J. Young. resident in psychiatry, McGill University, October 2010