Supportive
Activist’s Foundation (SAF) has organised a training programme on mental health
issues at Bakoteh Community Centre on Saturday.
The
organisation was created by a group of young people of different religion and
culture with the same objective of giving support to the mentally ill
individuals and the needy people in order to have a positive societal change.
Speaking
on the occasion, the programme manager for mental health and substance abuse at
Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital, Bakary Sonko said the training was “very
encouraging and innovative” in raising the awareness of mental health issues.
“This
training is very necessary as there are so many socially, physically and
mentally ill people in our societies who need your help in order to reduce the
stigma and discrimination,” he said.
He
commended SAF for the initiative to strengthen information systems and research
relevant to mental health.
Solomon
Correa, managing director of SAF, said it is part of their core objectives to
observe and care for the mentally ill individuals in the society.
“It
is part of our core objectives to observe and care for every mentally ill and
needy person in our society in order to give them the opportunity to contribute
to the development of the country,” he said.
Mr
Correa said SAF has plans to embark on more sensitisation campaigns in order to
raise public awareness on mental health issues to reduce the stigma associated
with it.
“Many
thanks to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare especially Bakary Sonko for
conducting a free lecture on the programme and Trust Quality Design for the 50
T-shirts to our members,” he said.
Muhammed
Touray, president of NHMH-GM, hailed the efforts of SAF for the initiative.
Momodou
Bah, treasurer of SAF, called on philanthropists and other stakeholders to
offer support to the realisation of the organisation’s objectives.
