Mental Healthcare in Mweso, Democratic Republic of Congo

MSF staff in Democratic Republic of Congo are living through the same trauma as their patients. Coming from the same communities as their clients, the Mweso team understand all too well the social taboos around mental health, as well as the traumatic events people are subjected to on an almost daily basis. Conflict, armed robberies, and sexual and domestic violence are just some of issues people face in North Kivu. Along with psycho-educational activities such as theatre productions, Mweso’s mental health team also provide therapeutic counselling for trauma related issues, such as sexual violence, psychological first-aid, psychosocial stimulation for nutrition, individual counselling and support groups for people living with conditions such as HIV, TB and diabetes, as well as referrals for psychiatric care.