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Mental Health Facilitator (MHF)
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The Mental Health Facilitator program focuses on improving access to community-based mental health care. In practice, the MHF program is multiple country-specific programs consisting of a training framework, a group of providers, and defined helping parameters (practice areas). The MHF program is not designed to create a new mental health profession; providers retain their own professional identity and add mental health facilitation skills to their practice.
NBCC International provides a basic structure for each of the components of a country-specific MHF program, but only introduces a program at the request of local mental health experts. Programs receive modifications to fit cultural norms prior to being introduced.
MHF training programs are adapted on a country-by-country basis with both universal and country-specific standards to ensure cultural appropriateness. Depending on a nation’s needs, MHFs may be initial helpers of choice, may serve as a referral source for specialist services, or both.
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Recent Events in MHF Program Development
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Dr. Scott Hinkle, lead developer of the MHF program, conducted a presentation on the MHF program at the International Counseling Congress in Shanghai, China.
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Mr. Daniel Paredes, NBCC-I's International Affairs Coordinator, conducted a presentation on the MHF program at the Interamerican Counseling Congress in San Isidro, Argentina.
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The curriculum development committees (both from Mexico City and Paris) were in attendance at the NBCC-I Global Mental Health Congress in New Delhi, India. Congress audience members provided important suggestions during a town hall meeting.
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The lead developers of the MHF program continue the challenging task of analyzing survey data that will inform the final MHF base curriculum.
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The MHF expert panel has developed a definition for mental health facilitation and a mission statement for the MHF training program.
Read more....
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The first MHF "training of trainers" course was held at the Guidance Counseling and Youth Development Centre for Africa in Lilongwe, Malawi, in February 2008, with funding help from the NBCC Foundation.
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The first university-based MHF "training of trainers" was held at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang in March 2008.
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The approved MHF curriculum, modified based on feedback from the Mexico City, Lilongwe and Penang trainings, was completed in April 2008.
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Interest in MHF training has been expressed by organizations in numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Botswana, China, Indonesia, India, Romania, Singapore, Tanzania and Turkey.
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