Culture shock and a peace corps field mental health program.

The Peace Corps has developed a unique mental health guidance program to facilitate the selection and training of volunteers. It is pointed out, however, that there are some limitations in this overall program. The Peace Corps staff physician acts as the activator of preventive and curative psychiatric resources in the field. Culture shock provides the focal point for nearly all overseas adjustment problems. The author devised a field mental health program upon group therapy precepts in order to minimize the effects of adjustment dilemmas. A preliminary evaluation of this type of program with the Bolivian Peace Corps contingent indicates it is effective.