At Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) in the Dominican Republic, every year the psychology department, which is part of the Health and Wellness program, carries out various activities such as self-esteem workshops, vocational assessments, and the application of scales to measure depression and anxiety, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psycho-diagnostic therapy. The goal is to identify and help our children achieve good physical and emotional health, as we understand that mental health is a key area for ensuring the ability to access opportunities for personal, economic, and social development.
Among the workshops, there are moments when everyone is allowed to voice their doubts and concerns. Additionally, often a blank sheet is provided for them to write down their opinions, as not everyone feels comfortable speaking in public. This way, everyone participates.
It is also worth noting that this initiative involves the children’s educators, who are directly involved in the workshops and other activities. Currently, Catalina Peña, the head of the Psychology Department, is working on a suicide prevention protocol with the collaborators so they can identify suicidal risk behaviors in children and adolescents. Lastly, but not least, this training helps educators learn what to do with a child or adolescent who has suicidal thoughts or attempts and how to prevent suicidal actions.
We continue to work hard at NPH! Join the cause!