Who’s Who in Haitian Mental Health

Mental health remains a critical yet under-discussed issue within Haitian communities globally. The intersection of cultural stigma, limited resources, and systemic challenges often creates barriers to accessing adequate mental health care. Despite these challenges, several Haitian nonprofits—both in Haiti and across the diaspora—are working tirelessly to provide mental health support, advocacy, and culturally relevant services to those in need. While this list highlights key organizations making an impact, it is not exhaustive. We welcome recommendations and insights on other nonprofits doing important work in Haitian mental health—feel free to share them with us.

Below, we explore key figures, initiatives, and nonprofits making profound impacts on the global landscape of mental health care for Haitians.

Key Nonprofits in Mental Health

Rebati Sante Mentale

Rebati Sante Mentale (Rebuild Mental Health) is a nonprofit working to establish a comprehensive mental health system in Haiti. The organization advocates for integrating mental health into broader public health initiatives. Through community-based programs, they provide educational resources and build capacity for Haitian professionals in psychology and psychiatry. Rebati Sante Mentale aims to counteract stigma while fostering dialogue on issues such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, transforming mental health services into a fundamental component of Haitian health care.

Rebati’s efforts also extend to Haitian diasporic communities. By targeting underserved Haitians abroad, they address transnational mental health challenges, ensuring that cultural responsiveness remains central to their interventions.

Global Trauma Research (GTR)

Global Trauma Research operates in Haiti and the United States, focusing on trauma recovery. Its programs address the mental health consequences of poverty, displacement, and disasters like the 2010 earthquake. GTR offers workshops, trauma counseling, and professional training for Haitian practitioners. Its initiative, the Haiti Trauma Project, in collaboration with Project Medishare, equips local professionals with skills to assess, manage, and mitigate psychological harm, thereby increasing community resilience.

In addition to their work in Haiti, GTR provides mental health services in Haitian Creole and French to diasporic communities in the United States. This dual focus ensures that Haitian expatriates also access culturally attuned care.

Partners In Health/Zanmi Lasante

Partners In Health (PIH), known locally as Zanmi Lasante, operates one of Haiti’s most comprehensive healthcare networks. Their mental health initiatives began earnestly after the 2010 earthquake, combining clinical treatment with community-based approaches. Today, PIH integrates mental health care into primary health services, running clinics across Haiti that treat conditions like depression, psychosis, and trauma.

Zanmi Lasante has gained global recognition for pioneering decentralized mental health models that can be reproduced in other low-resource settings. This nonprofit collaborates with the Haitian Ministry of Health, blending local expertise with international standards to ensure high-quality care.

Haitian American Psychiatric Association (HAPA)

Founded in 1984, HAPA bridges the mental health needs of Haitians living both in Haiti and abroad. Based in the United States, HAPA supports Haitian communities through educational campaigns, advocacy for equitable care, and direct intervention. Their programs range from addressing trauma among disaster survivors to promoting mental health awareness within the diaspora. Collaboration with academic institutions and hospitals enables HAPA to engage in cross-border initiatives, strengthening mental health care systems globally.

Ronald Jean-Jacques and the Emergency Support Hotline

Ronald Jean-Jacques, a psychologist and professor at the State University of Haiti, has made impactful contributions to mental health care in Haiti. He leads the Emergency Psychotherapeutic Intervention Unit, which established an emergency intervention hotline (+509 2919-9000) offering free psychological assistance. This service connects callers with psychologists and provides referrals to specialists when needed. Over 20,000 people have used this hotline, making it a critical tool for addressing mental health concerns, especially given the limited availability of mental health professionals in Haiti.

Club Santé Mentale de Carrefour (CSMC)

Established in 2023, Club Santé Mentale de Carrefour (CSMC) is a community-based mental health nonprofit based in Carrefour, Haiti. Despite its recent establishment, the organization has made significant strides in providing mental health services and raising awareness among Haitians. Its mission includes reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and offering support to individuals dealing with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.

CSMC has implemented group counseling sessions, individual therapy, and workshops that prioritize resilience and coping mechanisms. They also emphasize community engagement by working with local leaders, schools, and families to create a support network. The Club celebrated its first anniversary in 2024, marking an impactful year in serving the people of Carrefour.

Mental Health Efforts in the Diaspora

Haitian mental health needs extend beyond Haiti’s borders, as members of the diaspora bear the psychological burdens of displacement, migration-related stress, and systemic inequalities in host countries. Nonprofits such as Rebati Sante Mentale, Global Trauma Research, and HAPA address these needs by creating culturally responsive programs tailored to the diaspora’s unique experiences.

Organizations like the Haitian Community Partners Foundation in Brockton, Massachusetts, also play a critical role. By combining mental health services, youth leadership programs, and immigration support, they provide holistic care for Haitian immigrant communities.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite these efforts, Haitian nonprofits face significant obstacles:

• Stigma: Mental illness is often misunderstood in Haitian culture, with conditions like depression or schizophrenia attributed to supernatural forces.
• Resource Scarcity: Haiti has fewer than one psychiatrist or psychologist per 100,000 people, emphasizing the reliance on community health workers and nonprofits.
• Training Gaps: Limited mental health training opportunities for practitioners means a shortage of skilled professionals, especially those equipped to provide culturally attuned care.

However, opportunities lie in scaling community-driven models like those pioneered by PIH and Rebati Sante Mentale and leveraging international collaborations to expand funding and training programs. Community partnerships, religious leaders, and traditional healers can also be integrated into mental health services, ensuring programs are contextually appropriate.

Closing Thought

Haitian nonprofits relentlessly focused on mental health work to address complex challenges across Haiti and the global diaspora. Organizations like Rebati Sante Mentale, Global Trauma Research, HAPA, and Partners In Health are paving the way for accessible, culturally sensitive care, addressing both systemic barriers and transnational needs. With the support of professionals like Ronald Jean-Jacques and thriving diaspora-based initiatives, Haitian mental health advocacy continues to advance. As global attention grows, these nonprofits are poised to deepen their impact, fostering resilience and hope across one of the world’s most underserved populations.