Background
Established in July 2011, the Mental Health Coalition is formed by and for actors in related field of mental health of all backgrounds. The MH Coalition has a membership, at present, of thirty (30) represented organization/institution varying from Government, Non-governmental, Civil Society, International, Faith Based, Traditional and Human Rights. The MH Coalition has achieved a wide and ever-growing membership including Persons with Lived Experence, caregivers, traditional healers, religious representatives, disability rights campaigners, educational workers, mental health researchers, governmental and non-governmental organizations.Our VisionTo raise awareness around the burden of vulnerable and marginalized persons including persons with disability with specific focus of persons with lived experiences of mental and psycho social disability in Sierra Leone and campaign for increased national commitment to, and resources for the same whilst building community and national capacity to care for and support those in need.Our Mission A society which protects the human rights and dignity of vulnerable and marginalized persons including persons with disability and with specific focus of persons with lived experiences of mental and psycho social disability, their families, and service providers; and provides non-discriminatory and high quality care and support to all those who need it. WHAT DO WE DO? Mental Health Coalition (SL) for the past years of existence has adopted four prong approaches in carrying out its mission and ultimately to achieve it vision thus employing:
Awareness Raising — the targets of its awareness raising efforts are mainly to:
mitigate/stop stigma against vulnerable and/marginalized persons – especially persons with disability including mental health and psycho social disabilities in Sierra Leone and beyond.
provide alternative understanding through enlightening of all on the generally accepted myth and assumptions around the causes, effects, and management of issues bordering disability and mental health in and outside Sierra Leone.
promote family and community support for vulnerable/marginalized persons with reference to those with all forms of disability including mental ill-health and encourage scientific and evident based care and interventions for all.
present a true picture of issues regarding vulnerable and/marginalized persons – especially Persons with disability including mental and psycho social disability to better inform advocacy for policies and decision making at all levels both in and outside Sierra Leone.
Capacity Building— through capacity building, the MHC-SL seeks to:
strengthen existing social and health structures that support vulnerable and/marginalized persons – especially persons with disability including mental and psychosocial disability in the country to thrive.
develop and empower leadership at organizational and individual levels of Persons with Disabilities including those with mental and psycho social disability for effective advocacy and evident based care/treatment.
contribute to the development of human resource capital for quality service delivery for vulnerable persons with specific focus on persons with disability and mental and psycho social challenge in Sierra Leone.
Advocacy— the MHC-SL advocate with every necessary authority ranging from community to national for increase commitment to vulnerable and/ marginalized persons – especially persons with disability including those with mental health and psycho social issues through:
policy review/development, implementation and enforcement on issues relating to vulnerable and/marginalized persons including persons with disability and mental health in the country.
call for national and local communities’ commitment towards vulnerable and /marginalized persons including persons with disability, mental and psycho social challenges and it related issues (financing, human resource, medication, social as well as facilities)
key asks for quality services that aligns with best practices for vulnerable and/marginalized persons including persons with disability and mental health and psycho social needs.
Livelihood Programs/Support – the MHC operates under the premise that quality care includes livelihood support through stills training and job creation that fosters inclusion and participation through:
establishing a cost recovery (and where applicable no cost) vocational training programs for marginalized and/ vulnerable persons including persons with disability and mental and psycho social challenge to empower themselves for the job market.
creating a center where trained persons will have alternatives to work and receive the required remuneration that meets their basic livelihood needs.
campaigning for inclusion into mainstream general workforce in the country without discrimination and bias and having the freedom to fairly compete with others.
Mental Health Coalition - Sierra Leone 
Leave a comment