Mending Mindsets Mental Health Project Consent Note Project Context According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fear, worry, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. It is normal and understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders all over the world. For Africa, especially Uganda, COVID-19 has posed a greater threat to the social wellbeing, livelihoods and health of families causing an acute increase in the reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder within families. Negative spillovers from the good-will safety net measures imposed by the Government have exacerbated the increased levels of unemployment due to business slow-down by most firms accelerating depressive disorder amongst many people. On the other hand, social distancing as a means to an end has triggered a discriminative behavior among family members, friends and communities against victims of the COVID-19 virus whilst others have been depressed from the bulk hospital bills from COVID treatment. PROJECT GOAL Understanding that general happiness greatly improves and contributes to one’s sound health, proactiveness, focus and quality of life, sporadic outbursts of anxiety or depressive order within communities and families may lead to life threatening experiences. This project is therefore to provide psychological support through enhanced learning on anxiety/ depressive order and to further showcase service providers in the field of mental health who will provide information about their program and services. PROJECT OBJECTIVES i.
Raise awareness about mental health
ii.
Reduce stigma associated with mental health
iii.
Increase understanding of the value of community mental health programs for improved quality of life through an innovative social engagement.
STRATEGY
The project will use the experimental and control mechanism where the project impact will be assessed on the selected work packages under Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. Phase I A media channel through the use of a 5 – 10-minute short film will be used as an awareness campaign strategy to get public buy-in from like-minded groups (individuals and companies) that may choose to join the cause. This will be strategized upon in raising the necessary funds and goods/service in-kind that will be needed to create a major impact under the project. The most suitable the area of shoot will be in Kajansi, Muline slum area and it has been selected due to the its alignment to the cause and social wellbeing of the communities that hail from the area. To this extent, the documentary aims to broaden its viewership starting with the Rotary Family. Phase I activities; a) A letter of introduction shall be written to the Local Council Chairperson who shall assist in identifying and mobilizing the vulnerable group for the short film. b) A vetting of participants will be done to narrow the groups into a sizeable number in order to get the best fit for the project. c) Mobilization of a community awareness campaign with key note speakers who will enlighten the community about Mental Health. d) The selected group shall be briefed about the objective the project. Selection of four most suitable characters will be drawn to represent the awareness media drive for the project. e) Rotarians experienced in script writing will support the selected characters as they prepare them for the master-piece short-film shoot. Phase II This phase will be more inclusive therefore it will focus on the initially identified and mobilized vulnerable groups under Phase I. Its major aim is to create intervention strategies within this community in form of psychosocial support, professional referrals for advanced cases of anxiety and depression, and empowerment programs. Phase II activities; a) Create support groups that will be monitored by participating mental health experts as they conduct support group therapy.
b) Link anxiety and depression victims to psychosocial support professionals for possible therapeutic treatment. c) Enhance personal talents of depressed victims through conducting a skilling in new talent specific skills. This may include improved baking and cooking practices for those with small businesses and those willing to go into such business as an income generating activity. d) Conduct a training in financial literacy to encourage savings to overcome depression triggered by a bad financial status. Phase III This phase will focus on information sharing and active monitoring of progress of the participating individuals while tracking success stories from the project. Focus will be placed on innovative ideas that promote social inclusion and participatory activities that enable a psychosocial wellbeing. a) Regular check-ins with professional experts to have a more interactive engagement. These will be tracked to maintain a consistent therapeutic schedule in order to evaluate the social change caused. b) Story sharing and documentation of lessons learned. Various media channels will be used for to share stories of various individuals that will be willing to share their experiences to a greater audience that may be going through similar challenges. c) Self-discovery and talent appraisal. Talent showcasing and recognition will be made for products produced from income-generating activities designed and participated under by the intended beneficiaries. WORKPLAN Objective To create an awareness documentary about Mental health
Reduce stigma associated with mental health
Strategy and Activities Approach Awareness raising • Participant vetting for the short film • Open space campaign and community clean up • Sensitization of the cluster community • Briefing of the selected four community members Film shoot • Commencement of film production with six community characters Participatory and • Creation of Anxiety and inclusive approach Depression support within the groups. community
Time line
11th-14th September
15th-16th September
Lead person/ Organization LC Chairman Kajjansi; Muline Project partners & Counsellors
Project Team, Media Consultant Project partners & Counsellors
Increase understanding of the value of community mental health programs for improved quality of life through an innovative social engagement.
• Linking anxiety and depression victims to psychosocial support professionals • Enhancing personal talents through conducting a skilling in new practices of specific skills. • Training in financial literacy Information • Regular check-ins with sharing and active professional experts to monitoring of have a more interactive individual engagement. progress • Story sharing and documentation of lessons learned. • Self-discovery and talent appraisal through talent showcasing and recognition
Project partners & Counsellors LC Chairman Kajjansi; Muline