Mental Health Programme; Youth Training
Two-Day Training for Community Health Volunteers (Community Health Volunteers) in Unguja and Pemba
We are excited to share an update on our recent activities aimed at enhancing mental health services in Zanzibar. In May, we conducted a comprehensive two-day refresher training for 170 Community Health Volunteers across Unguja and Pemba. This training, which started in Unguja, included a critical new component: youth mental health. Our Community Health Volunteers, who were already trained in youth mental health, are now equipped to actively participate in youth clubs and provide mental health sessions.
Youth Mental Health Initiative
The main goal of this training was to prepare Community Health Volunteers to engage with youth clubs. There are a total of 15 youth clubs in Zanzibar—11 in Unguja and 4 in Pemba. Although not all health centres have youth clubs, those that do will benefit from the Community Health Volunteers’ ability to offer mental health sessions and screen for issues using Dodoso la Dalili kwa Kiswahili – a screening tool for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions – the Shona Symptoms Questionnaire is an English version. Any identified cases will be referred to our psychiatric clinics.
Community Awareness and Sensitization
A significant part of our program focuses on sensitising the community about mental health issues such as depression, epilepsy, substance abuse, and bed-wetting. Our aim is to promote health-seeking behaviour and increase understanding of these problems. We recognize the important role traditional healers play in the community, and we work with registered healers who can refer patients to our clinics. For those who are not registered, we still seek to build trust and encourage honest referrals.
This ongoing initiative reflects our commitment to improving mental health services and awareness in Zanzibar. We look forward to continuing our work and making a positive impact on the community’s mental health and well-being.
Dawati Rafiki Programme
The training also served as a refresher for the Dawati Rafiki programme, ensuring the full group of Community Health Volunteers in Unguja, consisting of 6 groups (2 in Pemba), are well-prepared. This initiative is crucial as we expect to see an increase in referrals to our psychiatric clinics in Makunduchi and Kivunge, which are already large and active.
Our long-term goal is to establish psychiatric clinics in all District hospitals and dispensaries, addressing the significant shortage of psychiatric nurses and staff.
Integration with Existing Youth Services
HIPZ is joining forces with existing youth-friendly services clubs, which currently offer counselling for youth on Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV, and Reproductive health. We are adding mental health services to this array. These clubs, under the Ministry of Health’s Youth Services department, provide a comprehensive range of services.
Operational Variability
The operation of youth clubs varies by health centre. Some run twice or three times a week, while others operate daily, offering services in the afternoon or morning based on the centre’s capacity. The youth clubs play a vital role in guiding members to appropriate services, including those for sexually transmitted diseases and other health issues. Health education is a cornerstone of these clubs, addressing stigma and other mental health issues, and guiding youth to seek the help they need.
Expansion and Future Goals
With more than 2,300 Community Health Volunteers across Zanzibar, 310 of whom are trained under the Dawati Rafiki programme, we acknowledge the need for further training and expansion. This number is still relatively small given the scale of mental health challenges at the grassroots, village level. Ideally, we need at least one Community Health Volunteers in every village to support community mental health, as currently, one Community Health Volunteers may be responsible for four villages.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A huge heartfelt thank you goes out to the Geoff Herrington Foundation for their outstanding support and enabling this Youth Mental Health Programme to be rolled out. Your commitment and generosity are truly inspiring, and we are honoured to have you as part of our community.
We would also like to acknowledge our incredibly valued partner, Lady Fatemah Trust, who are pivotal to our mission of improving the mental health of Zanzibar. Through your continuous contributions we are able to sustain our efforts and drive impactful change.
We are immensely grateful for these partnerships and the profound difference which is being made. Thank you.