Support Mental Health Care & Psychosocial Support

The School Mental Health Literacy Project has provided our team with an opportunity to implement community-based mental health care and psychosocial support synchronously within the school community. During this period, our project has directly impacted 197 people, including 48 individuals (24%) under the age of 25.

As part of our general operations, trained elderly women, who we refer to as Wisdom&Wellness Counselors, administer the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). This clinical assessment is used to screen for, diagnose, monitor, and measure the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 consists of nine questions, each corresponding to one of the criteria for diagnosing depressive disorders according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Notably, six individuals responded to the final question by indicating they had thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way. In addition to these questions, the counselors also inquire about the difficulties these issues pose in managing work, home responsibilities, and relationships. 44% of participants indicated that their challenges ranged from 'somewhat difficult' to 'extremely difficult.'

As we continue to advance our interventions, we recognize that our efforts have only begun to address the broader needs. Although our primary focus remains on school and community-based interventions, we acknowledge that these methods do not reach the majority of those in need. Consequently, we are exploring ways to enhance our strategy by promoting the sharing of tools and resources that empower individuals to manage their mental health more effectively.