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This paper reviews and summarizes the available literature on Haitian mental health and mental health services. This review was conducted in light of the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. We searched Medline, Google Scholar and other available databases to gather scholarly literature relevant to mental health in Haiti. This was supplemented by consultation of key books and grey literature relevant to Haiti. The first part of the review describes historical, economic, sociological and anthropological factors essential to a basic understanding of Haiti and its people. This includes discussion of demography, family structure, Haitian economics and religion. The second part of the review focuses on mental health and mental health services. This includes a review of factors such as basic epidemiology of mental illness, common beliefs about mental illness, explanatory models, idioms of distress, help-seeking behavior, configuration of mental health services and the relationship between religion and mental health.

Cet article passe en revue et résume l’ensemble de la littérature sur la santé mentale et les services de santé mentale en Haïti. Ce compte rendu a été rédigé à la suite du tremblement de terre qui a frappé Haïti en janvier 2010. Nous avons effectué des recherches dans Medline, Google Scholar et d’autres bases de données disponibles en vue de recueillir la littérature scientifique pertinente sur la santé mentale en Haïti. La consultation d’ouvrages de référence et de la littérature grise sur Haïti a complété les recherches. La première partie décrit les principales données historiques, économiques, sociologiques et anthropologiques qui permettent de comprendre sommairement Haïti et sa population. La démographie, la structure familiale, l’économie haïtienne et la religion y sont abordées. La deuxième partie est axée sur la santé mentale et les services de santé mentale. L’épidémiologie élémentaire des maladies mentales, les croyances au sujet des maladies mentales, les modèles explicatifs, les idiomes de détresse, les comportements de recherche d’aide, la configuration des services de santé mentale et l’étude des relations entre la religion et la santé mentale y sont examinés., This paper reviews and summarizes the available literature on Haitian mental health and mental health services. This review was conducted in light of the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. We searched Medline, Google Scholar and other available databases to gather scholarly literature relevant to mental health in Haiti. This was supplemented by consultation of key books and grey literature relevant to Haiti. The first part of the review describes historical, economic, sociological and anthropological factors essential to a basic understanding of Haiti and its people. This includes discussion of demography, family structure, Haitian economics and religion. The second part of the review focuses on mental health and mental health services. This includes a review of factors such as basic epidemiology of mental illness, common beliefs about mental illness, explanatory models, idioms of distress, help-seeking behavior, configuration of mental health services and the relationship between religion and mental health., Este artículo revisa y resume la literatura sobre la salud mental y los servicios de salud mental en Haití. Este informe fue redactado después del terremoto que sacudió a Haití en enero de 2010. Realizamos búsquedas en Medline, Google Scholar y otras bases de datos disponibles a fin de recopilar la literatura científica pertinente acerca de la salud mental en Haití. La investigación fue completada con obras de referencia y literatura gris acerca de Haití. La primera parte describe los principales datos históricos, económicos, sociológicos y antropológicos que permiten comprender someramente a Haití y a su población. Se abordan la demografía, la estructura familiar, la economía haitiana y la religión. La segunda parte se centra en la salud mental y los servicios de salud mental. Se examinan la epidemiología elemental de las enfermedades mentales, las creencias con respecto a las enfermedades mentales, los modelos explicativos, las expresiones de angustia, los comportamientos de búsqueda de ayuda, la configuración de los servicios de salud mental y el estudio de las relaciones entre la religión y la salud mental., Este artigo passa em revista e resume a literatura sobre a saúde mental e os serviços de saúde mental no Haiti. Este resumo foi redigido após o tremor de terra que atingiu o Haiti em janeiro de 2010. Realizamos pesquisas no Medline, no Google Scholar e em outros bancos de dados disponíveis visando reunir a literatura científica pertinente sobre a saúde mental no Haiti. A consulta de obras de referência e da literatura “cinzenta” sobre o Haiti completou as pesquisas. A primeira parte descreve os principais dados históricos, econômicos, sociológicos e antropológicos que permitem entender sumariamente o Haiti e sua população. São abordadas a demografia, a estrutura familiar, a economia haitiana e a religião. A segunda parte trata da saúde mental e dos serviços de saúde mental. São examinados: a epidemiologia elementar das doenças mentais, as crenças sobre as doenças mentais, os modelos explicativos, as demonstrações de desespero, os comportamentos de busca de auxílio, a configuração dos serviços de saúde mental e o estudo das relações entre a religião e a saúde mental.

Bien que l'on retrouve dans la population Inuit du Grand Nord du Québec (Nunavik) les troubles psychiatriques majeurs décrits dans la nosologie psychiatrique actuelle, la culture influence de manière importante la symptomatologie et l'évolution de ces troubles ainsi que les réactions qu'ils suscitent. Une revue de la littérature, les réflexions que nous inspire une expérience de consultation psychiatrique en milieu Inuit et les premières données d'une recherche ethnographique, indiquent que le développement de services mieux adaptés et sensibles à la réalité de la culture Inuit doit reposer sur l'étude de l'ethnopsychologie Inuit et des attitudes actuelles envers les malades mentaux., While the major psychiatric disorders described in current nosology can be found among the Inuit of Northern Québec (Nunavik), there are important cultural influences on the symptomatology, social response and course of these disorders. A literature review, consideration of experiences with psychiatric consultation among the Inuit and the preliminary results of ongoing ethnographic research underscore the importance of the study of Inuit ethnopsychology and current attitudes toward the mentally ill in developing culturally sensitive psychiatric care.