STUDY OVERVIEW
Difu Simo (a Kigiriama phrase which means “Breaking Free“) is a Mental Health Awareness Campaign in Kilifi County currently funded by the Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fund. The project was established in 2019 as a collaboration between the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Documentary Institute of Eastern Africa (DIEA), Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA) and the County Government of Kilifi.
The campaign utilizes participatory approaches such as films and art in the form of music, dance and poems to sensitize the public about mental illness. The project aims to improve knowledge about mental illness, reduce stigma towards people with mental illness to encourage them to seek health care, and bring the worlds of biomedical treatment and traditional healing in dialogue about a holistic approach to treat and re-integrate people with mental health problems back into the community and live healthy lives.
Effectiveness of the project’s anti-stigma campaigns in mental health will be evaluated by measuring changes in aspects of stigma including levels of knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards people with mental illness. Effect of the community engagement interventions will also be evaluated qualitatively, to explore experiences of the community stakeholders on implementation of the campaign
A MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN IN KILIFI COUNTY
People with mental, neurological and substance use disorders often face challenges such as stigma and discrimination because of the perceived negative beliefs about the causes, symptoms, and management of these conditions. Stigma has a significant impact on their quality of life and influences decision to seek care and adhere to treatment among people with these disorders. In Kilifi County, while there is evidence of a significant burden of mental and neurological disorders, the state of mental health services, advocacy, and awareness interventions are limited and do not directly target or involve local communities within the region.
Watu walio na matatizo ya kiakili mara nyingi hukabiliana na changamoto kama vile unyanyapaa na ubaguzi kwa sababu ya imani hasi zinazochukuliwa kuhusu sababu, dalili na udhibiti wa hali hizi. Unyanyapaa una athari kubwa katika ubora wa maisha yao na huathiri uamuzi wa kutafuta matibabu na kuzingatia matibabu miongoni mwa watu wenye matatizo haya. Katika Kaunti ya Kilifi, ingawa kuna ushahidi wa mzigo mkubwa wa matatizo ya akili na mishipa ya fahamu, hali ya huduma za afya ya akili, utetezi, na uhamasishaji ni mdogo na haulengi moja kwa moja au kuhusisha jamii za eneo hilo.
Wazo la kuanzisha kampeni ya Difu Simo, inayoongozwa na jamii na wadau kuhusu afya ya akili, lilichochewa na uzoefu wa marehemu Bw Changawa, mwenye umri wa miaka 52 aliyekuwa na skizofrenia ambaye aliishi nusu ya maisha yake kwa minyororo kwa sababu ya unyanyapaa unaohusishwa na hali hii ya afya ya akili. Kesi ya Changawa, ambayo inashirikiwa kupitia filamu ya hali halisi ya “Man in Chains” kwenye sehemu ya maingiliano hapa chini, ilifikia kilele chake katika kuunda mradi wa kuongeza uelewa juu ya matatizo ya kiakili na ya neva na kushughulikia unyanyapaa ambao umeenea katika eneo la Kilifi Kenya.
Kampeni ya Difu Simo hutumia mbinu bunifu na zinazoongozwa na jamii ili kukabiliana na unyanyapaa dhidi ya watu walio na hali ya afya ya akili kwa kueneza ufahamu kuhusu sababu, ishara na dalili, na chaguzi zinazopatikana za usimamizi kwa hali hizi. Zaidi ya hayo, kampeni hushirikisha, kushauriana, na kushirikiana na washikadau wa jamii kupitia utafiti wa hatua shirikishi ili kuelewa afya ya akili kutoka kwa mtazamo wa jamii na kuandaa mikakati inayofaa kitamaduni ili kukuza uwezekano, ufanisi, na uendelevu wa afua za kupinga unyanyapaa.
Maagizo.
Hii ni toleo linalilingana na maandishi, filamu kamili iliyotolewa mnamo 2020. Unaweza kuitazama kwa ukamilifu wake au uchague kupata mlolongo wa ziada.
Wakati kitufe cha kucheza kinapoonekana, ukibonyeza utatazama mlolongo wa ziada ambao huendeleza mada zilizofunikwa. Mwisho wa mlolongo, filamu itaanza tena kiatomati wakati ambao umeingilia uchezaji.
Yaliyomo ya multimedia yanayotoa data ya ziada kwenye mada zilizoadhiriwa kwenye filamu zinaweza kupatikana kwa kufuata kiunga husika kwenye ukurasa wa mradi.
CHANGAWA
THE MAN IN CHAIN
Maagizo.
Hii ni toleo linalilingana na maandishi, filamu kamili iliyotolewa mnamo 2020. Unaweza kuitazama kwa ukamilifu wake au uchague kupata mlolongo wa ziada.
Wakati kitufe cha kucheza kinapoonekana, ukibonyeza utatazama mlolongo wa ziada ambao huendeleza mada zilizofunikwa. Mwisho wa mlolongo, filamu itaanza tena kiatomati wakati ambao umeingilia uchezaji.
Yaliyomo ya multimedia yanayotoa data ya ziada kwenye mada zilizoadhiriwa kwenye filamu zinaweza kupatikana kwa kufuata kiunga husika kwenye ukurasa wa mradi.
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From Our BlogTHE TEAM
Ms. Mary Bitta
Project Principal Investigator
Ms. Mary Bitta
Project Principal Investigator
Prof. Charles Newton
Project co-investigator
Prof. Charles Newton
Project co-investigator
Judy Baariu
Research officer
Judy Baariu
Research officer
Simone Grassi
Filmmaker
Simone Grassi
Filmmaker
James Kahindi
Field assistant
James Kahindi
Field assistant
Onyango Otieno
Mental health advocate
Onyango Otieno
Mental health advocate
Joseph Karisa Mwarandu
Mijikenda rights activist
Joseph Karisa Mwarandu
Mijikenda rights activist
Emanuel Chengo Munyaya
Mijikenda rights activist
Emanuel Chengo Munyaya
Mijikenda rights activist