Honest conversation about Mental Health (HCAMH)
Location
This community based organization will train lay people in mental health issues who will then create awareness and increase knowledge of mental health issues through peer to peer discussions among community members. Education will focus on early signs and symptoms, challenging myths about mental illness and managing medication side effects This project aims to increase knowledge about mental health issues and challenge negative attitudes through peer to peer discussions rather than having high and mighty experts talk down to the people. This will increase the ability of community members to recognize early signs and symptoms of mental illness and promptly link the affected individual to available mental health services and available support groups in the area. The project aims to increase treatment options for mental health problems so that community members can make an informed decision, when they recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness in an individual. In addition, there will be an opportunity for community members to learn from people who have experienced mental illness first-hand
Mental health is an area that every one is silent about mainly because of stigma. There is anecdotal evidence to show that different types of mental disorders are prevalent in the general population and are largely unattended to. This has led to the current bizzare behaviors in Uganda like child sacrfice etc. Since resources to treat and screen for mental disorders are limited Ethels innovation is timely and the most appropriate intervention; it is a novel ground breaker and knowing the determination and hard work of Dr Ethel this project is going to be a success. Sustainability is guarranteed since the community members are involved and will stay doing the same even when the project ends; because of that i highly recommend this project.
