Mental health project kicks off in Gauteng

A mental health and HIV pilot project has been launched by the UNHCR in partnership with Lawyers for Human Rights and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Torture to provide a holistic support to refugees and asylum-seekers with mental health illnesses.

The project, aiming to address the needs of people with mental health problems and improve the mental well-being of refugees in Gauteng, will greatly benefit many refugees who have not been given much attention in past.

The three organisations saw firsthand the negative impact that violence, traumatic events and difficult living conditions have on the mental health status of refugees and sought to address this by offering the necessary assistance and restoring their dignity.

Mental illness is a very complex phenomenon within the refugee and asylum-seeker community. These complexities often arise from the lack of insight into behaviours associated with mental illnesses for the individual refugee and the entire community. Refugees who suffer from mental illnesses become susceptible to criminal activity, HIV infections, exploitation, arrest and detention. At early as possible, people with chronic mental disorders and severe trauma should be detected and treated.

The pilot project has three components: legal or advocacy assistance to be rendered by LHR; psychosocial support by CSVR; and material support to be given in the form of food and accommodation.
Refugees and asylum-seekers with mental health illnesses will be referred to UNHCR by CSVR or LHR for individual assessments and to make a determination as to whether assistance can be granted and for what period.

This project will run up to the end of December 2013 where after an assessment for continued implementation will be made based on the results of the pilot initiative.

Mental illness diagnosis for vulnerable refugees will be done by a mental health professional or by CSVR. Individuals will receive short-term assistance (1 to 3 months)
Currently, an estimated number of 50 refugees have been assessed and found to suffer from mental illnesses. They have been assisted with food, accommodation, legal assistance or psychosocial support.

In the process of being helped, the refugees are also being empowered to become self-reliant by giving them hope and confidence in themselves.

CSVR has already started training some of its partners and UN- HCR staff will also be trained on aspects of refugee mental health care to equip them with appropriate skills of identifying persons of concern with such illnesses.

The health of refugees and other forcibly displaced people is a key component of protection and a priority for UNHCR. Intensified efforts are being made by UNHCR in order to respond to the mental health needs of one of the most vulnerable groups of today' s world.