Mental Health

Disease outbreaks, extreme poverty, violence, and natural disasters can transform lives, and cause trauma. To assist people affected by such situations, ALIMA provides mental health and psychosocial support activities in its countries of operation.

Context

While psychosocial and mental health problems are common in all communities around the world, they are much more prevalent among those facing adversity, particularly communities in humanitarian crises.

In many African countries, and in Ukraine, ALIMA works in contexts of health and security crises and natural disasters, such as disease outbreaks, malnutrition, war, conflicts, and population displacements.

In many of the countries where ALIMA works, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with multiple negative consequences for communities : violence (attacks, threats, killings, rape, kidnappings, disappearances), various material losses leading to increasing instability , displacement, and marginalization and stigmatization of certain individuals or social groups. In addition to other humanitarian needs, such situations can affect the mental health and the psychological and social well-being of victims.

2

mental health workers per 100,000 people is the average in Africa, while the world average is 13 mental health workers per 100,000 people (source WHO 2021).

13,267

mental health consultations performed by ALIMA in 2021 (versus 1,938 in 2020), primarily in conflict zones or areas affected by severe crises.

ALIMA's response

Faced with these issues, ALIMA has made mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities a priority in the difficult and complex humanitarian contexts in which it operates. Such activities are an essential element of care and protection for local populations as well as staff.

Since 2014, ALIMA has implemented mental health and psychosocial activities in 11 countries to alleviate the psychological suffering of individuals and strengthen the coping mechanisms of traumatized populations.

To do this, ALIMA medical teams support health centers and strengthen the capacities of their medical staff in psychosocial care. They also provide individual or group mental health consultations. Some of the main disorders observed in these contexts are: acute stress, post-traumatic stress, depressive disorders, psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, chronic psychogenic headaches, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, psychological development disorders, and substance use disorders.

Our activities

Community-based mental health promotion:

Grassroots mental health awareness and promotion
Psycho-education/information
Mobilization of community networks for mental health and psychosocial support

Individual and group consultations:

Psychological first aid
Individual and/or group listening/interview sessions
Specific care for psychological trauma (TSR: Traumatic Stress Relief) for individuals and groups.
Support/discussion groups

Psycho-stimulation for malnourished children:

Cognitive, motor, affective and social psycho-stimulation of children under five years old
Recreational activities and games
Psychoeducation and support to parents (especially mothers) for the psycho-stimulation of their children

Staff well-being:

Briefing and debriefing
Critical incident management
Specialized care
Promoting wellness and mental health
Ongoing psychological support for field and headquarters staff

Training:

Mental health fundamentals and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergencies.
Psychological first aid
Psychosocial activities
Mental health activities in medical care practice
Staff mental health and well-being

“Population displacements cause cycles of vulnerability and are a source of post-traumatic stress. When something happens to you suddenly and puts your life in danger (for example, leaving your home, your village without being prepared, witnessing massacres, fleeing threats), it affects your psychological well-being, hence the importance of psychosocial care.”

Dodo Ilunga Diemu, Mental Health Coordinator at ALIMA specializing in psychosocial support for civilian populations affected by violence in Burkina Faso.