Meeting on Community Mental Health in the African Region.
Three staff of the mental health and psychosocial programme of HealthNet TPO in
The Global Forum for Community Mental Health is a worldwide network with the mission to provide a supportive network for all those interested in Community Mental Health Services and care for people with severe mental disorders. The priority of the forum is to shift care from large isolated institutions to community-based services in low and middle-income countries. HealthNet TPO strongly supports these goals and is happy to be a part of the Global Forum. For more information go to the website: www.gfcmh.com
The meeting in
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| ^ Boniface Duku, psychosocial supervisor of HealthNet TPO | |
The theme of the meeting was sharing the experience, enhancing best practices. The specific objectives were:
- To share selected experiences of Mental Health in
- To discuss ways to identify and overcome the barriers hindering the implementation of Community Mental Health Services;
- To enhance the partnership of professional, Government Agencies, Non Governmental Organizations, users and cares groups.
Many conferences are held on mental health, but this one was special because it brought together service providers and users of mental health services.
A particularly interesting development that was highlighted at this meeting is the emergence of African organizations of people with mental illnesses. Thus ‘user movement’ gives a voice to those who utilize mental health services and can help in lobbying for funding and a more human-centered mental health care.
The delegation of HealthNet TPO Sudan is motivated and encouraged by this meeting. We realize that the service delivery is in line with the mission and priority of the GFCMH. But of course much more work needs to be done!
Taban Khasim, psychiatric nurse
Mental Health Coordinator
HealthNet TPO Yei
