Past Projects

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Breaking the Silence (2013)

CBR is currently engaged in a comprehensive project to increase the well being of people living with mental health issues in the Builsa district. The campaign will accomplish this in three main operational phases: peer support, stigma reduction, and school education.

Peer Support Groups: Two peer support groups have been meeting bi-weekly for the past month. One group specializes in anxiety and depression; the other encompasses epilepsy and any other mental health concerns. These groups meet to discuss coping strategies as well as basic cognitive behavioural therapy techniques and education about mental health. These groups provide a safe environment for people to speak about their experiences and support one another. The group facilitator, Chelsea Humphry, obtained her psychology degree from the University of Calgary and has been trained in crisis intervention and peer support facilitation.

Stigma Reduction: PCBR has partnered with Radio Builsa to host a mental health radio show on a weekly basis. Each show will have a focus theme as well as a myths and facts section, local resources, personal stories, and a call in period for any questions people may have. This program aims to discuss main issues in mental health and reduce stigma through education and empowerment.

School Education: This project is in the design phase currently, student leaders representing each junior high school and senior high school will be trained on mental health issues and peer support techniques. It is CBR’s hope that these students will return to their schools and share what they have learned with their peers and establish a peer support system that works for each school.

Y2Y Action (2013)

The Youth to Youth Action and Capacity Building Program is an initiative of PCBR for junior high students in Sandema. The program is designed to promote and develop awareness about key development issues that children and youth encounter in their communities. To accomplish this goal, PCBR staff engages in open discussion with students to encourage them to think about the program’s three main components. These components are: human rights and learning through diversity, personal health awareness and developing healthy communities, and capacity building for individuals and communities. Some key issues covered under these components include gender equality, children’s rights, sexual health, nutrition, mental health, leadership, and future planning. The Y2Y action program contributes to PCBR’s guiding principles of raising awareness about human rights issues and empowerment.