Healing Through Hope: Grace’s Journey to Mental Health Recovery in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement
Grace, a 24-year-old girl living in Kyangwali refugee settlement in Kikuube District, Uganda, has found new support through the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) provided by the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO). Hopes and goals. This initiative, funded by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), has been a lifeline for many refugees like Grace.
“When I was 17, my parents were killed,” Grace begins, describing her ordeal.
In 2018, conflict broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo and she fled. During this time, she experienced gender-based violence (GBV), which led to her first pregnancy. For nearly six years, Grace has lived in a refugee settlement with her two children, ages 4 and 5, but struggled to find the support she needed to heal from the mental health challenges caused by GBV.
“I wanted to go to school,” Grace explained, “and with the many supports provided in the settlement, I managed to enroll. But soon after, I became pregnant for the second time and had to give up my studies,” she said tearfully. explain.
After leaving school, Grace self-isolated, locking her door and avoiding the outside world. Her despair deepened and she even attempted suicide. The turning point came when a concerned neighbor visited her and recommended TPO’s services, including MHPSS and cash transfer support.
“I met Sharon, a mental health worker who visited me on a number of occasions. She encouraged me to attend therapy sessions. At first, I couldn’t talk to anyone, but now I can share my experiences, and help other women and girls seek the same mental health services,” Grace shared with confidence.
CERF-funded projects aim to address these challenges by increasing access to appropriate mental health and psychosocial support services. It also promotes leadership, participation in decision-making and social cohesion while delivering GBV protection services through a survivor-centred approach.
Grace is one of many women and girls to benefit from this initiative. Through TPO, she completed ten sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and financial literacy training. She also received Start-Up Cash Assistance, which allowed her to continue her studies and start a small business to sustainably support her children.
Uganda continues to host large numbers of refugees, many of whom are women, children and individuals with special needs. These populations often face significant mental health challenges as a result of conflict, displacement and exposure to violence, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Within these contexts, MHPSS problems for women and girls are diverse, ranging from social problems and emotional distress to common and serious mental health disorders such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
“I’m grateful for the support I’ve received,” Grace said. “Now I can look forward to a brighter future for myself and my children.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women Africa.
