Rwanda – Progress from our Counselling Project for Survivors of the 1994 Genocide
In 2020:
- 24 new Health Workers were trained in recognising signs of mental ill-health, e.g. depression and post traumatic stress disorder, bringing the total since the start of the project to 102
- 130 Peer Support Counsellors have been trained to date
- 461 home visits were carried out to offer extra support to particularly vulnerable beneficiaries
- 263 participants took part in group counselling & 856 participants received individual counselling; and
- 1,340 participants received telephone counselling to ensure continuity of counselling during Covid-19 lockdowns
In 2019, 29 new Health Workers were trained, bringing the total to 78. 106 Peer Support Counsellors have been trained to date. 332 home visits were carried out to offer extra support to particularly vulnerable beneficiaries. 272 participants took part in group counselling; and 69 participants received individual counselling.
In 2017, a pilot programme was successfully delivered to provide mental health support to 250 young survivors of the genocide who are suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression. In 2018 we replicated the programme to reach a further 250 genocide orphans, and have been replicating it each year since then.
Sierra Leone – Progress from our Community Mental Health and Covid-19 Project in Port Loko District
In 2020 (July-December):
- 10 team members received mhGAP refresher training and supervision with a mental health specialist
- 161 patients in Bakeloko, Maforki and Kasse chiefdoms attended mobile Mental Health Clinics, run by the Port Loko district mental health nurse
- 112 participants took part in Community Education sessions (1 session per community per month) in villages/community centres
- 459 people with mental illnesses and/or epilepsy & 43 carers received counselling
- 9 Self Help Groups with a total of 179 members continued to be supported
- 131 people joined Community Outreach sessions which covered referral pathways, stigma reduction, mental health signs and symptoms, family support
- 56 participants were prescribed epilepsy medication and attended monthly review sessions with a mental health nurse; and
- 9 secondary schools received Covid-19 and mental health awareness sessions reaching around 800 students
Uganda – Progress from our Livelihood Support for People with Mental Health Issues, in Kalongo, Agago District (The National Lottery Community Fund)
In 2020:
- 25 Self Help Groups were selected to take part in the livelihoods project
- 450 members received group management training and financial literacy training
- 437 members received enterprise selection training; and
- 442 members received family visits to check on preparedness for receiving inputs
Uganda – Progress from our Community Health Matters Project in Kalongo, Agago District (Comic Relief)
In 2020:
- 733 patients were treated at monthly Mental Health Clinics in the 4 beneficiary sub-counties of Lukole, Paimol, Wol and Kalongo Town Council
- 441 people with mental illness or epilepsy took part in 682 counselling sessions
- 2,046 people took part in community education sessions to raise awareness about mental illness and epilepsy, including symptoms, causes and where to seek treatment
- 36 new Self Help Groups were formed with a total of 692 members, bringing the total number of Self Help Groups to 61
- 62 Self Help Group members received training in advocacy and human rights (these trainers went on to share this training with the remaining 630 SHG members)
- 10 Health workers from the 4 health centres were involved in Participatory Data Analysis sessions to analyse progress of the project and gather beneficiaries’ feedback
- 77 members took part in Focus Group discussions to measure satisfaction of the support they had received; and
- 29 project staff and SHG leaders took part in in-depth interviews about stigma reduction.
In 2019, 716 new patients were treated at Mental Health Clinics. 1,304 people attended monthly clinics. 354 people with mental illness or epilepsy benefited from counselling sessions, as did 155 caregivers. 25 Self Help Groups were formed with a total of 482 members, and 48 Community Education Sessions were carried out, including 4 in schools – these reached 4,629 people.
Sierra Leone – Progress from our Life-Changing Mental Health Project (Comic Relief)
In 2019, 1,167 follow up and outreach counselling sessions were undertaken. 84 Mental Health Clinics were conducted – these clinics supported more than 1,000 clients. 24 Self Help Groups were formed (9 in Port Loko and 15 in Freetown). 1,658 people attended Community Health Sessions, and 84 Community Education Sessions were carried out to raise awareness of mental illness, reduce stigma around mental illness and explain how to get treatment and support – these reached over 1,600 people.
In 2018, 30 head teachers, 28 police officers, 21 local councillors, 28 religious leaders, 21 traditional leaders and 28 chiefs and “mammy queens” were trained in how to identify mental health issues and refer people to available services. Radio broadcasts communicated messages to raise awareness about mental health problems, symptoms and how to help those suffering from them. 429 people were registered with mental health problems and/or epilepsy for counselling.
Uganda – Progress from our Community Counselling Outreach Project in Patongo
2,000 community members trained in trauma counselling skills; these lay counsellors supported 13,000 people suffering from mental health problems. 24 community counsellors received advanced training in trauma counselling and its related behaviour (e.g. alcohol abuse, domestic and sexual violence, depression and suicide). They offered individual counselling to trauma victims, and their respected status in the community makes them effective conduits of information about health, nutrition, family planning and women’s rights. Each year, the counsellors work with 5,000 people. 24 community counsellors were also trained in HIV counselling to support HIV+ people, helping them come to terms with their diagnosis and adhere to the right medical protocol (e.g. antiretroviral drugs).