By: Problyn J. Alpha
As Sierra Leone joined the world over to commemorate this year’s world mental health day on the theme “make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority more than nine mentally disturbed patients whose lives were reintegrated by partners in health (PIH) through the mental unit department have graduated in Tailoring from the Kono Musu skill training center in Koidu City Kono District.
The ceremony which attracted the presence of many stakeholders and mental health workers took place at the Koidu government hospital mental unit department.
The world mental health day is commemorated on the 10th October every year with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world, and to mobilize effort in support of mental health.
The day according to report provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more is needed to be done to make mental health a reality for people worldwide.
When making her statement, Catty Conteh one of the community health officers attached to the mental unit at the Koidu Government hospital stated that, the mental unit at the above named hospital came in to existence in 2015 with support from the ministry of health and sanitation to address some of the mental health issues within the district. Stating, as the number of mentally disturbed people continue to increase partners in health in 2019 intervene to support the government of Sierra Leone.
She said the number of patients they have treated from 2019 to date out way the number of patients the administered treatment to from 2015 to 2019.
She further explained that, the intervention of partners in health has helped the metal unit to embark on different activities citing example to the homeless programme which they started in 2019 with a lot of testimonies of transforming mentally insane people who were once wandering in the district and beyond.
She continued to say that they have community awareness programmes with strong physical councilors going around communities to engage young people who are hell-bent on taking substances like tramadol, Kush and other substances to raise awareness on the proper use of the aforesaid substances to reduce the negative effect on young people.
“There is also an outreach programme implemented by the mental unit with effective and committed staff to administer treatment to their patients regardless of their geographical surroundings”, she stated.
CHO Catty Conteh however urged residents of Kono District to deviate from the idea of discriminating and stigmatizing mentally installed people in the community.
Sheku Condeh is another Community Health Officer who made a statement; he described mental illness as any other sickness in the community that can be treated. Adding, mental Health Day is an International Day for global mental health education awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
“As we preach against stigma and discrimination against mentally disturb people, it is our responsibility to step in and help them get medication in order to get back their full senses and reintegrate, them in their communities to make meaningful contributions” CHO Sheku Condeh stated. Talking about the causes of mental illness community health officer Sheku Condeh noted that, Bayophysical model, rape and excess in taking of marijuana and Kush are some of the major causes of mental illness.
“The grandaunts are some of the mentally ill patients who after treating them have gain their normal health condition, and upon confirmation in their behaviors, we sent them to the Kono Musu training Centre to acquire skill on free basis and are going to be given start – up kits to start a new life” Sheku Condeh Concluded.
On behalf of the graduates KombaY. Kasiama and MusuTarawalle thanked PIH for their intervention and for giving them the opportunity to acquire skills after reintegrating them.