Mental Health Reinforcement in Wayapi and Teko Communities in French Guiana : Evaluation of the Impact of a Mediation Based Activity in Municipalities of Camopi and Trois Saut in French Guiana

NCT07808801 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MCS Impact
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Mental Disease

Keywords

Indigenous mental health; Suicide prevention; Community Health Workers; Amazonia / French Guiana; Intercultural mediation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months after CHWs intervention

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Prevalence of psychological distres

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months

• Prevalence of alcohol use pattern

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months

• Health-care utilisation

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months

• Cultural representations of mental health and CHWs intervention

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months

• Community perceptions of mental health and of CHWs intervention

  From inclusion to 12, 24 and 30 months

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

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

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals under legal guardianship
• Health conditions that prevent them from understanding or completing questionnaires or participating in interviews.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne: lead
• Regional Health Agency (ARS): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne

Cayenne, French Guiana, 97300, French Guiana

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Pollock NJ, Naicker K, Loro A, Mulay S, Colman I. Global incidence of suicide among Indigenous peoples: a systematic review. BMC Med. 2018 Aug 20;16(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12916-018-1115-6.

  PMID: 30122155 RESULT

• Pacot R, Garmit B, Pradem M, Nacher M, Brousse P. The problem of suicide among Amerindians in Camopi-Trois Sauts, French Guiana 2008-2015. BMC Psychiatry. 2018 Apr 11;18(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1670-6.

  PMID: 29642878 RESULT

• Elias B, Mignone J, Hall M, Hong SP, Hart L, Sareen J. Trauma and suicide behaviour histories among a Canadian indigenous population: an empirical exploration of the potential role of Canada's residential school system. Soc Sci Med. 2012 May;74(10):1560-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.026. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

  PMID: 22464223 RESULT

• Diehl EE, Langdon EJ, Dias-Scopel RP. [The contribution of indigenous community health workers to special healthcare for Brazilian indigenous peoples]. Cad Saude Publica. 2012 May;28(5):819-31. doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x2012000500002. Portuguese.

  PMID: 22641506 RESULT

• Chandler, M. J., & Lalonde, C. (1998). Cultural Continuity as a Hedge against Suicide in Canada's First Nations. Transcultural Psychiatry, 35(2), 191-219. https://doi.org/10.1177/136346159803500202

  RESULT

• Burn H, Black J, Harwood M, Gordon I, Burnett AM, Hamm LM, Evans J, Ramke J. Eye care delivery models to improve access to eye care for Indigenous people in high-income countries: protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2019 Jul 29;9(7):e029214. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029214.

  PMID: 31362967 RESULT

• Agudelo-Hernandez F, Amaya NV, Cardona M. Suicide in a Colombian indigenous community: Beyond mental illness. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 Dec;69(8):1986-1995. doi: 10.1177/00207640231183922. Epub 2023 Jun 30.

  PMID: 37392003 RESULT

Related Links

• Different perspectives on suicide and suicidal behaviour in French Guiana in 2023-2024
• Descriptive epidemiology of suicide attempts and suicides in remote municipalities in French Guiana 2007-2018

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Suicide Prevention

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Mathieu Nacher, MD, PhD

  Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Inserm CIC 1424 Guyane-Amazonie

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Cassio De Figueiredo Azze, MCs

CONTACT

+33594395050; cassiofr@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2026
• First Posted: September 9, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2029
• Last Updated: September 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

FR (1)