In French Guiana, Indigenous people experience high levels of psychological distress and higher rates of suicidal behavior than the rest of the population.
The Wayãpi and Teko communities living in Camopi and Trois-Sauts are particularly affected.
Since 2025, Community Workers (CHWs) from these communities have been appointed to facilitate access to care, improve communication between residents and health services, and strengthen support in situations of distress.
To date, no scientific evaluation has been conducted to measure the actual impact of this initiative. This research therefore aims to better understand mental health in these communities and to assess the effect of the community mediators' work.
The results will help improve suicide prevention efforts and adapt public health policies to local realities.
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of CHWs activities on:
* suicidal behavior, * psychological distress, * alcohol use, * use of health care services, within the Wayãpi and Teko communities of Camopi and Trois-Sauts.
Age > 12 years
Members of the Wayãpi or Teko communities residing in Camopi or Trois-Sauts.
No objection to participating in the study and to the use of their data after receiving information in local languages and in French
Individuals under legal guardianship
Health conditions that prevent them from understanding or completing questionnaires or participating in interviews.
Adults and children over 12 years of age from the Wayapi and Teko communities in the villages of Camopi and Trois-Saut in French Guiana
Other
Other
Not listed
Change in the incidence of suicidal behaviours (suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths) in the villages of Camopi and Trois-Sauts before and after the deployment of CHWs
Change in the incidence of suicidal behaviours (suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths) in the study population, comparing retrospective suicidal behaviour rates in the 5 years before with propective suicidal behaviour rates at 12, 24 and 30 months after the intervention of CHWs among the study population
Prevalence of psychological distres
Measurement of psychological distress score using the validated K10 scale
Prevalence of alcohol use pattern
Measurement of alcohol use pattern using the validated AUDIT-C scale
Health-care utilisation
Number of out patient visits and hospitalisations in psychiatric and general medical services
Cultural representations of mental health and CHWs intervention
Analysis of the cultural representations of mental health and CHWs intervention using a qualitative questionnaire with individuals and focus group strategy with groups of participants
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Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
Lead sponsor
Regional Health Agency (ARS)
Collaborator
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