What We Do
Our Vision
Mending Minds and Healing Hearts Foundation (MMHF) is dedicated to creating an environment free from any type of abuse leading to mental health challenges in Sierra Leone. We believe that providing a wide range of charitable wellness focused services and promoting community development activities will enhance social-emotional development among youth and young adult and prevent challenges relating to mental health by giving them the opportunity to speak out. We will use evidence-based approaches in our work with youths, young adults, and communities. We will work with existing institutions providing education, counseling, mental health services, trained staff, provide conducive work environment, and implement effective mental health campaign. At the same time promote good self-esteem and confidentiality.
Our Mission
The mission of Mending Minds and Healing Hearts Foundation (MMHF) is to provide quality counseling, education, abuse free environment, reinstate the dignity of our beneficiaries and provide reliable information to policy makers, international partners and the public about mental health situation in Sierra Leone, its prevention and control, treatment, and impact on nation building. We are dedicated to strengthening protective factors against all forms of abuse leading to mental disorders, reducing stigma of mental health, and encourage individuals to seek early help.
Background
Sierra Leone experienced a decade long civil conflict (1991-2002), Ebola, mudslide and COVID-19 that introduced, on a much larger scale than prior to the war. Many Sierra Leoneans have suffered from DRUG ABUSE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, NEGLECT, LONELINESS, and STRESSFUL LIVING CONDITIONS especially in Freetown and other parts of the country. Although different militia groups use alcohol, spiritual houses, traditional healing, and drugs as tranquilizer to cope with some of the consequences and ease up their pain and loss from the war, Ebola, mudslide, COVID-19, and other crisis the country has gone through. However, it has been proven that the indiscriminate use of drugs and all forms of abuse fueled some of the terrible atrocities and human rights violation the country is going through. Although NGOs have been working on integrating, empowerment, counseling in many parts of the country, there was very little work done around addressing all forms of abuse and the misuse of drugs by our youths and young adults.
Given its effect on post war, Ebola, mudslide and Covid-19 in Sierra Leone, the country continues to experience an increase in mental health challenges especially among youths and young adult, which make up over 45 percent of the population. The high concentration of drugs, illegal substance abuse, and other forms of mental health challenges among youths and young adults can be associated with factors such as unemployment, low literacy, socio-economic instability, and high living standards. According to a leading psychiatrist consultant in Freetown, there are about 65,000 people suffering from mental health challenges, of which 60 percent are youths and young adults. And about 90% of inpatients and outpatients visiting the main Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Freetown is because of psycho-active substance abuse.
Although, the government and aid agencies remain committed to the fight against mental health challenges and drug abuse, there remain notable complexities that demand action, such as the country been identified as one of the major gateways in West Africa for drug trafficking, a situation that requires a coordinated and multifaceted approach to reverse.
Problem Statement
It is evident that there is a proliferation of a variety of mental health challenges and drugs abuse in Sierra Leone. Particularly among youths and young adults who remain grossly unemployed and make up over 45 percent of the country’s population. The increase in mental health challenges and substance abuse remain a critical uncertainty and threat to peace and stability, governance, and public health. Apparently, the availability of different types of drugs and substances at a very cheaper rate, to an unemployed population has left hundreds of young people with psychiatric problem. Drugs such as Marshmallow Leaf (Kush), Tramadol, Cannabis, Cocaine, and Brown-Brown are among the cheapest drugs illegally made available to the population. As a matter of fact, cracking down peddlers, other illicit traffickers and addressing abusive situations that leads to mental health issues remain one of many challenges the government and partners are struggling with. It remains evermore evident that a lot more needs to be done to address mental health issues in Sierra Leone.