Dear John,

Imagine finally finding the courage to ask for help with your mental health, only to realise nobody knows how best to help you. This is a reality for too many people. 

In the Global South, up to 85% of people don’t receive the treatment they need for their mental health conditions. 

Health Poverty Action has launched its mental health appeal this week, in partnership with Find Your Feet, to support the people who are finding ways to address mental health in their communities.

Otilia's Story

Otilia Mbano is the senior nurse at Chakohwa Clinic in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe. Due to a lack of specialist knowledge, staff at Chakohwa Clinic had found it difficult to treat people living with mental health conditions effectively.

Otilia explains: “We attended to all these [people with] mental illnesses as psychiatric episodes and there was no continuity of treatment, no follow ups and no rehabilitation….all of these practices are critical to bring the person into [good health] again.”

Things changed dramatically in October 2019, when a psychiatric nurse from our local partner, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO), trained the nurses of Chakohwa Clinic.

The training clarified how to identify signs and symptoms, debunked some myths and misconceptions about mental health conditions and created a common understanding amongst the nurses. The staff still refer to their training manuals.

Otilia tells us: “Mental health training enables us to change people’s lives for the better”.

By contributing to our mental health appeal you could help communities, families and healthcare workers, like Otilia, learn how best to support people living with a mental health condition.

A generous supporter will double all donations made by 31 December 2020, up to a total of £10,000.

Yours sincerely,

Siaffa Bunduka
Supporter Engagement Manager