Community participation in mental health training

In the Pacific, training in mental health counseling skills must be culturally sensitive, adapted to the needs and resources of the specific emerging island countries and involve community participants in all phases of the training. A context is developed for viewing mental health problems and needs in Micronesia and American Samoa. The paper highlights the process the trainer encounters in preparing the community for the training. The concept of community participation is developed and operationalized. A two-phased training model suggests one way to implement WHO's mandate for partnership and participation.