The Friendship Bench project offers a brief psychological intervention addressing kufungisisa (Depression) in primary care clinics in Zimbabwe. The cognitive behavior therapy based intervention, a problem solving approach, is carried out by trained Lay Health Workers.
The training manual is written in English and Shona, it explains common mental disorders (CMD) and how to administer and score the locally validated questionnaires that assess CMD. Furthermore, required counselling skills are explained in detail, as is the Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and how to use it with Friendship Bench clients. Topics such as strong emotional reactions, suicide assessment and referral, home visits, supervision and self-care are also discussed in specific chapters.
The Friendship Bench Training Manual will be reviewed and adapted for the scale up of the intervention to over 50 local clinics.
Please contact the Friendship Bench team through their website for more information and access to the Friendship Bench Training Manual.
