Development of the first telepsychology initiative in Haiti in response to COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of the first telepsychology initiative in Haiti. Haiti is the world’s first black-led republic. It is also the only nation established by slave revolt and the first independent Caribbean state. In this case study, the development and pilot implementation of the first telepsychology initiative in the country of Haiti is described. The initiative was designed to provide psychoeducational and emotional support to community members and frontline health workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in this under-resourced country. Design/methodology/approach A multi-stakeholder approach was used and brought together local, national and international partners from governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as the academic community. Program data was collected from May 2020 through November 2021. The initiative was implemented across four regions of Haiti: Nord, Artibonite, Reste-Quest and Sud. Findings A total of 701 individuals received telepsychology services. More community members participated (n = 508 sessions) than frontline health workers (n = 193 sessions). Service utilization ranged from one to four counseling sessions. Initial data suggest that telepsychology is a potentially acceptable and feasible option to increase access to mental health services in Haiti. Significant logistical and cultural concerns must be taken into consideration to refine services. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the telepsychology initiative is the first of its kind and may serve as an exemplar for other similar countries with limited mental health resources. The authors provide information on successes, barriers and lessons learned as well as recommendations for enhancing services.