Rwanda – Progress from our Counselling Project for Survivors of the 1994 Genocide
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 set up to provide mental health support to 250 young survivors of the genocide who are suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression. This pilot was expanded in 2018 to reach a further 300 genocide orphans.
Sierra Leone – Progress from our Life-Changing Mental Health Support Project
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.
In Uganda – Progress from our Community Health Matters Project in Kalongo
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
In 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).