Empowering communities to develop safer mental health care

1. Empowering communities to
develop safer mental health care
Anne Mason 2017
Supported by
Agbodo R, Moyo P, Mugala M, Polson R, Balenibe, T, Hill L, Urquhart H.
HLP Ghana Zambia Scotland

2. Shared problem
 MI attributed to supernatural causes that
can lead to stigma and discrimination and
abuse.
 Poor public access to mental health
information and literacy
 (literacy is the knowledge and beliefs
about MI which can aid recognition,
management and prevention)
 Rural communities are left to self
manage leading to unregulated
confinements and treatments.

3. Conceptual framework
• Creative arts can be a safe medium to
consider alternative views and
behaviours (Papa and Singhal 2011)
• Working in partnership with
communities – can facilitate shared
learning and ownership and can
empower communities to actively
participate in developing health care
systems (Zubber-Skerrit 2012; NEF
2013;WHO 2007)

4. What we did
We listened and planned together
6 communities
18 Agents trained in MHL
6 community volunteers (trained)
Drama groups (trained)
Story writer
Regular conversations with communities about
• Mental (ill) health – causes etc
• Current responses to mental illness including
treatments
• Who do people turn to for care and support
• Information needs
• Way forward

5. Bihee – Ghana
Main religion is Islam
Language Waali
Challenge process:
• Chief of village was also spiritual healer and felt threatened
• Protocols, listening, empathy, involvement at every stage relaxed the
situation

6. Current practice

7. Edutainment and sensitive issues

8. Community Ambassadors

9. Innovation
Ahaji Insah is now part of the movement and helps gives contemporary medicine alongside his medicine and
wants to promote safer shelters. Patients are now given more choice to types of treatment and have a more
accessible pathway to professional help.

10. Magazine Community- Chipata

11. Community Role

12. Community Actions
• Meeting of 3 communities (30+) to discuss
sustainability
• Neighbour hood watch committee
- Baking business
- Information stall in Saturday market
Purchase of Bikes to
- Improve mobility to support people
(food/professional help)
- Visit groups/families to talk about MI
- Employment for youths (social enterprise)

13. Summing up- community voices
• we were suspicious ………we were fed up with NGOs asking us questions and
getting our views on different topics with no solutions to our problems, we did not
benefit anything from people like yourselves, but looking at the progress ….we
have learnt a lot ….and the social enterprise will help to reduce unemployment to
our youths ..if managed properly, '' (community 1 Zambia)
• The project has engaged local community rulers to sparkle a whole new paradigm
of approach to seeking help for mental health needs. Community members feel
confident to discuss issues related to mental health.(MHA Ghana)

14. References
Nef (2013). Co-production in Mental health. A literature review. The New Economic Foundation.
Papa, M., and Singhal, A. (2011) How Entertainment-Education Programmes Promote Dialogue in Support of
Social Change. Journal of Creative Communications. 4(3) 185–208
WHO (2007) People centred healthcare: A policy framework. World Health Organization.
Zubber-Skerrit ) and Teare R (2012) Lifelong Action Learning for Community Development. Sense. Boston.