🧠 1. Project Background & Scope

• Led by SADO, the initiative titled Community Mental Health Support Project (IPT) Bukedi and Elgon runs from 2023 to 2028. It targets underserved eastern districts including Bukedea, Mbale, Butebo, Budaka, and the foothills of Mount Elgon.
• It aims to improve access to mental health care, reduce stigma, and build community capacity for early identification and management of mental health conditions.

2. Mobile Clinics & Outreach Services

• Implemented in partnership with German Doctors e.V. and Uganda Youth & Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF), the project deploys mobile clinics offering:
  • Mental health screening and psychosocial first aid
  • Basic counseling services
  • Referrals to higher-level care (including Bukedea Teaching Hospital and Butabika).

3. Community Awareness & Stigma Reduction

• The initiative engages Village Health Teams (VHTs), schools, and local leaders to:
  • Run awareness sessions to normalize mental health discussions
  • Share psychosocial education and self-care strategies
  • Train “Mental Health Champions” to spearhead school- and youth-led activities.

4. Psychosocial Support & Peer Groups

• Peer-led support groups bring together individuals managing depression, anxiety, trauma, or grief.
• These groups offer safe spaces for sharing, mutual support, and coping skills, and serve as referral points to clinical care when needed.

5. Livelihood & Resilience Linkages

• Projects like gardening initiatives by Sustain for Life integrate mental health with livelihood support—boosting self-esteem, social connectedness, and economic resilience.
• Savings and loan components attached to support groups enhance economic stability, which in turn improves mental well-being.

6. Training & Systems Strengthening

• Community actors—VHTs, counsellors, peer champions—are trained in:
  • WHO mhGAP protocols and mental health literacy
  • Basic counseling and referral processes
  • Group facilitation and income-generating activity management.

7. Partnerships & Institutional Support

• Strong collaboration with social and clinical partners:
  • Bukedia Teaching Hospital, newly established via Speaker Anita Among, offers referral and training support.
  • Local and regional NGOs contribute technical guidance, community awareness, and capacity-building resources.

8. Impact & Community Feedback

• Though still early-stage, this integrated model mirrors proven approaches (e.g., BNUU in northern Uganda):
  • Awareness gains, reduced stigma, and community-based mental health services supported by peer groups and income activities.
  • Community-led project champions ensure ownership and sustainability.

✅ Summary Table

🌟 In Summary

The Bukedi‑Elgon mental health project is forging a holistic, community-first model, combining mobile services, peer support, awareness campaigns, economic strengthening, and health system integration. This multi-pronged approach addresses stigma, accessibility, and the social determinants of mental health — fostering a more resilient and supportive environment for the region.