Mental health emerges as top concern for Haitians amid ongoing crisis in Port-au-Prince, new survey reveals

Mental health is among the top concerns for Haitians amidst the country’s ongoing socio-political crisis, according to a new survey by Ransanble Pou Ayiti, a coalition of 12 Haitian women-led nonprofit organizations.

The survey, which gathered responses from over 1,000 individuals across all ten departments of Haiti, found that psychological support is a top priority for the population, alongside security, education, and economic stability.

“The first step towards building a new Haiti is healing the population’s emotional wounds,” said Roseline Benjamin, psychological director of IDEO Foundation, one of the participating organizations.

The survey, conducted in April 2024, found that 40% of respondents expressed a need for psychological assistance due to the crisis’s impact on their daily lives. 

The coalition members emphasized the importance of addressing mental health as a priority in Haiti’s recovery efforts. They noted that the country has experienced a series of social and political crises over the past decade, which have taken a significant toll on the mental well-being of the population.

“We can’t talk about a better Haiti until we handle the mental health situation,” said coalition member Mélodie Benjamin, who’s a psychologist and vice president of The Ti Souf Foundation. The foundation, founded by Benjamin, and her brothers Lionel Benjamin Junior, and the late Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin, focuses on programs addressing quality of life issues in local communities.

 “We need to focus on training psychologists and creating a curriculum for first aid psychological support that can be provided in schools, churches, and hospitals.”

Haiti has faced numerous challenges in recent years, from political turmoil to natural disasters. Since February, the country has been in a state of emergency, with gangs controlling nearly 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital city. 

The survey also highlighted the need for economic stability, with respondents calling for job creation, access to credit, and support for local businesses. Seventy-four percent of respondents reported struggling with high costs for basic necessities like food, water, and transportation. Fifty-one percent said they or a family member could not attend school due to the crisis. Forty-five percent of respondents said they faced difficulties accessing health care or obtaining necessary medications.

The coalition members emphasized the importance of empowering Haitians to build their lives and livelihoods. They announced plans to use the insights to develop more targeted and effective aid strategies, including a training program for psychological first aid.

“What’s coming out from this survey is people are raising the alarms that they need help mentally,” said Dayanne Danier, a coalition member and founder of Fleur de Vie, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting education initiatives in Port-au-Prince, Mirebalais, and Anse A Veau.

“Too often, people are talking about the key needs of Haiti. We know it’s security. We know it’s food. We know it’s food. We know it’s education, but we need to really start coming out and saying that it’s okay to not be okay.”

The post Mental health emerges as top concern for Haitians amid ongoing crisis in Port-au-Prince, new survey reveals appeared first on The Haitian Times.