Using a Store-and-Forward System to Provide Global Telemental Health Supervision and Training: A Case from Syria

• Published in: Academic psychiatry 2016-08, Vol.40 (4), p.707-709
• Main Authors: Jefee-Bahloul, Hussam, Barkil-Oteo, Andres, Shukair, Nawras, Alraas, Wael, Mahasneh, Wissam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aggression; Aggression - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - therapy; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autistic Disorder - psychology; Autistic Disorder - therapy; Behavior modification; Clinics; Cognitive Restructuring; Cognitive Therapy; Column: Educational Case Report; Coordinators; Cultural Influences; Delivery of Health Care; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Etiology; Family (Sociological Unit); Feedback (Response); Global Health; Health care networks; Health Services; Humanitarianism; Humans; Information Security; Instructional Materials; Male; Medical Education; Medical personnel; Medical referrals; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mental Health Programs; Mental Health Services; Motor Development; Needs Assessment; Networks; Nonverbal Communication; Organization and Administration; Physicians; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychiatry; Psychiatry - education; Psychologists; Referral; Referral and Consultation; Refugees; Refugees - psychology; Relief Work; Semitic Languages; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Supervision; Syria; Telemedicine - methods; United States; Video teleconferencing
• ISSN: 1042-9670; 1545-7230
• DOI: 10.1007/s40596-015-0423-9

Not only in humanitarian conflict settings but throughout the globe, the provision of mental health services has always faced practical difficulties, such as the availability of flexible manpower of supervisors on the ground. In this report, we present a global telemental health system that provides clinical consultations and supervision to health care providers in the Syrian humanitarian setting, using store-and-forward technology, as an alternative to videoconferencing. Next, whenever possible, an initial meeting takes place via videoconferencing, during which all team members being recruited will meet with the network coordinators and some of the specialists to obtain an overview of the network and instruction on the technical navigation of the platform, training to help health care providers identify the information needed for telemental health case referrals and make proper presentation of clinical material, and suggestions on how to incorporate the advice given to those in clinical care. Discussion This brief report describes the use of store-and-forward technology in the provision of mental health supervision and clinical training to health care providers in the Syrian humanitarian conflict setting.