Honest conversation about mental health (HCAMH)
Location
main
Kampala
Uganda
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 wi
Reason:
Most mental health care occurs in the community, where professionals may have inadequate time or training to adequately address the burden of suffering. Other models must be developed to better meet the needs of those with mental health problems. This project endeavors to address both realities - the community nature of mental health care needs and the inability of professional to meet those needs - by creating a community-based and lay person-led mental health intervention. This exciting approach offers a strategy for other communities and other health problems. Acknowledging this project by selecting it for the Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing award will increase awareness about this innovative initiative.
Most mental health care occurs in the community, where professionals may have inadequate time or training to adequately address the burden of suffering. Other models must be developed to better meet the needs of those with mental health problems. This project endeavors to address both realities - the community nature of mental health care needs and the inability of professional to meet those needs - by creating a community-based and lay person-led mental health intervention. This exciting approach offers a strategy for other communities and other health problems. Acknowledging this project by selecting it for the Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing award will increase awareness about this innovative initiative.
Organization: Honest Conversation about Mental Health (HCAMH)
First name: Etheldreda
Last name: Nakimuli-Mpungu
City: Kampala
Country: Uganda
Comments
Honest Conversation about Mental Health(HCAMH) is a community based organization training lay people in mental health issues. This will create awareness and increase knowledge of mental health issues through peer to peer discussions among community members. Education is focused on early signs and symptoms, challenging myths about mental illness and managing medication side effects. This project aims at increasing knowledge about mental health issues and challenge negative attitudes through discussions rather than having high and mighty experts talk down to the people. This will empower community members to recognize early signs and symptoms of mental illness and promptly link the affected individual to available mental health services / support groups in the area. The project aims at increasing treatment options for mental health problems so that community members can make informed decisions, when they recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness in individuals. In addition, there will be an opportunity for community members to learn from people who have experienced mental illness first-hand
The reason why I am nominating this project is because of its initiative to addess a problem that is fast growing as a result of wide spread drug abuse and increasing social problems that are some of the causes of mental problems. Such issues are not given priority and have resulted into numerous cases of domestic violence that have resulted into street children, single mothers, orphans and murder cases.
For the above reasons, I am nominating Honest Conversation about Mental Health(HCAMH).
The first name of principal person in charge is Etheldreda
The last name of principal person in charge: Nakimuli-Mpungu
Email address: enakimul@jhsph.edu
City: Kampala
Country: Uganda