Introduction

As described in Study Session 9, mental illnesses are common in the community. However, most communities in Ethiopia receive little benefit from either general health services or the scarcely available mental health services. This may be because of lack of knowledge, skill and attitude, both among healthworkers and in society at large. Therefore, your training will help you in identifying and giving care to people with mental health problems. In this study session you will learn about ways to talk to clients, how to identify their problems and needs, recognise and handle emergency psychiatric conditions and help clients to cooperate in accepting medicines and other treatment methods. We will also discuss how to follow up on cases.