Enabling Access to Mental Health in Sierra Leone - Coalition

10/09/2024

Every 40 seconds a person dies by su***de somewhere in the world. Over 800 000 people die by su***de every year. Yet su***des are preventable. “Preventing su***de: a global imperative” is the first WHO report of its kind. It aims to increase awareness of the public health significance of su***de and su***de attempts, to make su***de prevention a higher priority on the global public health agenda, and to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive su***de prevention strategies in a multi-sectoral public health approach.

The report provides a global knowledge base on su***de and su***de attempts as well as actionable steps for countries based on their current resources and context to move forward in su***de prevention.

10/09/2024

Decriminalizing Su***de: SAVING LIVES, REDUCING STIGMA

03/10/2022

Modified Version

The Mental Health Coalition - Sierra Leone (MHC-SL) in partnership with the University of Makeni (UniMak) and CBM, and other development partners on Mental Health announces the 9th National Mental Health Conference. The theme for this Year's Conference is: Creating Hope through Action; Making Mental...

29/09/2022

National Mental Health Conference 2022 Registration Form

9th National Mental Health Conference organize by the Mental Health Coalition – Sierra Leone (MHC-SL) and the University of Makeni (UniMak) in collaboration with other development partners in Mental Health under the Stand Up to Stigma Project with funding from CBM International. MHC-SL Partners in...

22/11/2021

10th Anniversary Sponsored Walk

Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power an…

29/10/2021

Mentalhealthcoalition Salone

8th National Mental Health Conference Registration Form in Sierra Leone organize by the Mental Health Coalition - Sierra Leone (MHC-SL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, University of Makeni under the Stand Up to Stigma Project with funding from CBM International. MHC-SL....

06/05/2021

Ramadan Message

Visit the post for more.

11/03/2021

MH Coalition 10th Anniversary Live

06/02/2018

What is Psycho-Social Support? The term psychosocial means the dynamic relationship between the psychological and social effects, of events on individuals. Psychosocial Counselling is important bec…

21/07/2014

Promoting Good Practice

Promoting Good Practice is the responsibility of all.

The golden rule of healthcare is that we do no harm to the individual. Good practice treats the person with the illness as a being worthy of dignity, respect and care.

Examples of Helpful Practices

- Quranic readings: Quranko (e.g. Quranic verses being read and then blowing the words of healing or blessing onto the person)
- Offering prayers – get consent from the person if you are going to lay hands on them - they are ill, be gentle
- Counselling
- Appropriate ritual, e.g.: anointing, aromatherapies
- Massage
- Breathing techniques

Examples of Harmful Practices

- Chaining
- Beating
- Harassing (inc sexual harassment)
- Cutting
- Burning
- Starving
- Ingestion of harmful mixtures (e.g. kerosine, chalk)
- 'Smoking', e.g. hot/burning inhalations

How can we advocate for Good Practice?

Are there any by-laws that we could identify today that could positively change the life of a person with mental illness tomorrow?

18/07/2014

Trauma/Distress

Many people affected by traumatic, bad events will experience emotional reactions, such as:

- Feeling numb or being in a daze
- Fear
- Sleep problems, nightmares
- Irritability

These are normal reactions to a bad event. However when these feelings begin to interfere with the person’s daily life and leads to new problems, such as alcohol and drug misuse or problems in relationships, then this is a mental illness.

Signs and symptoms:

- Problems sleeping
- Becoming angry very quickly
- Problems concentrating
- Being hyper-alert (constantly looking out for danger, on edge)
- Being surprised easily
- Remembering the bad event as if it is happening again – A Flashback
- Avoiding situations that remind them of the bad event
- Being unable to remember fully what happened in the bad event.

17/07/2014

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Sierra Leone's President has identified illicit drugs as one of the three major risk factors threatening the stability and security of the country. Sierra Leoneans consumed on average 9.7 litres of alcohol per capita in 2005, as opposed to 6.2 litres in other African countries.

Signs and Symptoms:

- Sleeping difficulties, irritability, stealing/spending all money to buy drugs/alcohol, getting into trouble with police.
- Feeling helpless and out of control, feeling guilty about drinking/drugs.
- Feeling sad and depressed.
- Having a strong desire to drink/take drugs every day.
- Stomach problems (ulcers), breathing problems, jaundice, seizures, tremors.
- Withdrawal symptoms if not taken: nausea, vomiting, sweating, confusion.

Causes:

People often drink and take drugs to try and escape from worrying/sad/distressing situations in their life. They use them to cope with troubled relationships and traumas.
People use substances because it makes them feel good.

Prognosis:

The longer the person abuses drugs and alcohol the harder it is to help them.
If left untreated then it can cause physical problems and any mental health problems will get worse.

Treatment:

Long term individual/group counselling and psychological and emotional support.