23 Community workers from all over Hela Province have acquired better skills and understanding on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support after attending a training facilitated by the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women PNG in Tari, Hela Province recently. The skills learned through the training not only better equip these individuals to provide mental health support to survivors, but also help them better manage the stress and vicarious trauma they experience in their line of work. The program aims to build the capacity of community workers to provide evidence-based counselling support. The project is part of United Nations Population Fund and UN Women PNG peace building efforts in the Highlands Region. Amongst the 23 trainees, was Mrs Jenny Martin, who was delighted to share her experience for the last 2 years giving counselling and help to women and youths. “Being a community worker is tough most times; especially in cases of gender-based violence were it is so easy for personal emotions to cloud judgements,” said Jenny. “Usually I forget about my own safety, or about hearing both sides of the story, and immediately take the side of the female survivor. I make judgements without considering that both parties need help especially psychosocial support!” Jenny who is a mother of three is a community worker with the Komo Learning and Empowerment Centre and a Public Officer with Komo Youths4Change and is committed to serving women and youths in her area and help survivors of violence. Jenny expressed how there is a huge gap in the mental and psychosocial aspects of a person's wellbeing, and that there was a big need for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support training for all community workers and frontline service providers. “This week has taught me a lot,” shared Jenny. “The most important learning has been Psychological First Aid and the four steps; Prepare, Look, Listen and Link.” “I especially have an appreciation for the importance of preparation because most times I do not take time to prepare myself or to take into consideration my safety”, she stated. “Through this training, I now know that in order to help others, I must ensure my safety first then the safety of others.” As a community worker, she shared that it is difficult to help survivors immediately, especially when their abusers demand for survivors to be returned to them and to not seek any form of help. Jenny mentioned that whenever a situation gets difficult, she always tries to identify if any one of the parties is showing more understanding and then she speaks to that person and redirects them to the Family Support Centre in Komo. “The Psychological First Aid training has helped me recognise that the law is better than retaliation. It is better to link survivors and perpetrators to the right place and right people, rather than taking matters into one's own hands, which is most of what is happening in Komo,” she said. Jenny mentioned that, there are about 28 community workers working with her at the Komo Learning and Empowerment Centre and she plans to take the lessons from the training back to her colleagues and empower them with the knowledge she acquired. “My aim is to support my fellow community workers so that we can work together to deal with the violence and attitude problem we see in our communities,” said Jenny. UNFPA and UN Women will continue to expand training for mental health and psychosocial support in the Highlands Region to address the critical lack of professional support available in the Region.