Community Support Agency Reaches Out

The Neighbours Helping Neighbours support programme is offering their services to all community-based organizations across the Cayman Islands.

Recognizing that many in Cayman are still struggling with issues caused by Hurricane Ivan, the Ministry of Health Services is reaching out to church-, business- or community-based groups that are interested in facilitating a support group for their membership. Support in the form of materials and trained facilitators will be offered to groups interested in this helpful programme.

The Ministry of Health Services under the guidance of locally based clinical psychologist, Dr. Karen Dunbar, developed Neighbours Helping Neighbours. It is a structured programme designed to provide emotional and social support to persons within the community who are experiencing post-Ivan difficulties.

Since the initial training of 30 facilitators in December 2004, the ministry has launched two Neighbours Helping Neighbours sessions in George Town and several facilitators have taken the initiative to develop their own peer support groups for their church and other community groups.

If your community group is interested in learning more about Neighbours Helping Neighbours and assistance that the Ministry of Health Services can provide, contact the Public Health Department, on 244-2648.