SUNGBA MENTAL HEALTH

ORGANISATION

Reaching out to the mental health

Of the Upper East Region

Complied by: Roger Mwin Organisation Representative

INTRODUCTION

People in their lives that have families with mental health

problems or affected by depression know the frustration of

wanting to help but do not know what to do about it and

where the lifeless attitude of people is considered a menace

in the civilization process then issues to remedy the canker

situation with the views of public end up proving futile.

Mental ailment, in itself pursues a psycho-traumatic

nudity in our societies.

More so, the numbers are weighing in sober; and the

greatest number of people with mental health problems is

within the 18-54 age groups. Unfortunately, amongst the

young people with the most severe mental health problems,

only 8% receive professional help.

Thus, Sungba (save them) mental health organization

came up with a team , set out to provide basic needs for the

mentally disabled found loitering in the streets.

This proposal sets out briefly the primary objective of the

organization, the current mental situation (Bolga

Township) and the organization care plan.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this organization is to provide

drop-in center and overnight shelter for the mentally

disabled.

Sungba mental health care will meet the basic

human needs of mental ailments and offer advocacy

and care management to facilitate social interaction

The organization will create a model for developing

informal helping resources and as well develop

partnership for support with other mental health

institutions.

Under the direction of an experienced mental health

professional, the organization will pilot a training

program and learning process involving mentoring

skill transfer and consultation.

CURRENT MENTAL SITUATION

(BOLGA TOWNSHIP)

A recent needs assessment by the organization recorded

about 44 male mental health ailments and 21 female mental

health ailments both resident and in the streets. Better still,

found that, out of 65 mental ailments;

MALE

23 ailments exhibited co-morbid substance misuse.

6 have serious mobility issues.

4 have learning disabilities.

4 ailments have autism and schizophrenia.

3 are associated with ageing problems.

4 are considerably superstitions

FEMALE

3 ailments exhibited co-morbid substance misuse

4 have serious mobility issues.

3 have learning disabilities.

2 ailments have autism and schizophrenia.

2 are associated with ageing problems

7 are considerably superstitions

ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

Sungba mental health organization, embodied with a

diligent team proves versatile intentions to house mental

ailments in other to keep them off the streets and to provide

them with overnight shelter in other to satisfy mental

ailments with the basic human need such as food and as

well clothe them to facilitate social interaction.

The organization will also engage mental ailments into

social practices with the help of mental health officials or

peer counselors so as to achieve desired goals where mental

patients could again fit into society.

With the support of mental health professionals, the

organization will promote the mental health of patients,

through public education, advocacy and service research by

mobilizing informal resources where peer helpers will

expand the knowledge and skill base within the

community; to increase the sense of community

responsibility and participation in health issues and also

enhance the community’s ability to identify and advocate

for its needs.

The organization will build partnerships between formal

and informal sectors in the areas of mental services; via

mentoring and skill transfer process to increase knowledge,

skills and involvement of community members in

supporting their peers and addressing the health needs of

the communities.

The organization will set up a project with mental health

professionals for skill training and counseling to the

volunteer mentors of the patients where at the end of the

project completion, the organization will be satisfied with 5

mental trainers and 7 peer counselors.

There will be provision for protective uniforms and gadgets

to be able to shave and wash down patients with severe

mental ailments for housing in other to prevent diseases.

BUDGET ALLOCATION

The present source of funding is merely inadequate to meet

the requirements of the organization and to successfully run

the services of this establishment; funds are needed to help

manage the cost of running the organisation.

As though the organization is currently funded by the

team and has insufficient financial fonts to meet up with set

standards, the organization will require a fully fenced

structure where mental patients could be housed for their

upkeep and be provided with the basic human needs to

escort the virtues in fulfilling primary objectives.

With the premonition in finding it disheartening to

convince mental patients to the housing unit, the

organization will need a van to move around in quest for

mental ailments and also transport them from where they

are been spotted to the housing unit.

The organization will in its own capacity appeal for funds

to be able to clothe and feed mental patients three times

daily to keep them strong and healthy and never make them

fall victims to starvation.

As though listed above but in a few, below is a tabular

representation of the budget allocation for the organization:

ALLOTED BUDGET AMOUNT (GHc)

Housing facility 54,000

Van 20,000

Feeding and Clothing 5,000

Project training 4,000

Transportation( fuel) 4,000

TOTAL

87,000

The salaries of employees and advancement of dues will be

funded by the organization.

The acquisition for communication airtime in the various

radio stations to introduce and enlighten the public and also

educate them on drug abusive effects will also be funded by

the organization.

The organization will also set aside funds to satisfy the

mental needs such as drugs and health care of patients.

ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED

Sungba mental health organization wishes to appeal for

airtime in the various radio stations to introduce the

organization to the public and as well enlighten them on

some of the services we render in our establishment.

The organization will meet up with the chief and his

subjects to formally introduce and educate them on the

services we render in our set up and the support we will

need from his people as well.

The organization will build partnerships with foreign

mental health organizations to extol expansion within the

reach for support and needy services where the

organization might fall short of accuracy and mental health

skills.

The organization will again render appeals to the public for

people to serve as peer volunteers to support in counseling

mental patients and again give advice to the youth in our

various communities, the effects of drug abuse.

CONCLUSION

This proposal responds directly to information gathered

from the need assessment recorded by the current team of

the organization based on the research of the current mental

situation in Bolgatanga Township and the willingness to

support and promote mental health services in the Upper

East Region and the nation at large.