BAIFA organizes the "Speak Out: Your Gate to Hope" program, within the framework of World Health Organization (WHO) one-year campaign Depression: Let’s Talk, launched in October 2016. The overall goal of this campaign, is that more people with depression, in all countries, seek and get help. Within this annual theme, and as far as Africa is concerned by WHO as one of the regions suffering from depression, BAIFA seizes the opportunity to get involved in such a campaign arising such hot topic with great interest to all people. This program aims to raise awareness about the refugees in Africa, and the causes, the possible consequences and the magnitude of depression they suffer due to multiple factors; top of which, being forced to move from their homes to neighboring countries. In addition, the program focuses on how science and research play role in overcoming their depression.
The first phase of the “Speak Out” program aimed to promote the BAIFA resources which best cover the program topics and greatly help the interested researchers and the postgraduate students. This was through conducting a number of online activities to support the African refugees overcome depression, using the “Depression: Let’s Talk” visuals available on WHO website.
Selective resources from BAIFA’s collection that best cover the topic:
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Refugees in Egypt
2016 , Al-Zawawy, M. Thesis/dissertation
- Identifying gaps between policy and practice in malaria control for South Sudanese refugees and displaced populations
2014 , Suliman, Alfatih Osman Fatahalrhman Thesis/dissertation
- The Egyptian Health System’s Response to Refugees and Migrants in Post Revolutionary Egypt
2013 , Kergoat, Yasmine Thesis/dissertation
- Review of Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs and Responses during Emergencies in Nigeria
2014 , Aderibigbe, Oluwakemi Olanike Thesis/dissertation
- Stepped care for maternal mental health : a case study of the Perinatal mental health project in South Africa
2012 , Honikman, Simone E-article
Download the full bibliography
The program was conducted in partnership with:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. It ensures that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. UNHCR Branch Office was opened in Cairo in 1954, it worked with stateless persons of Armenian and European origin, followed by large influxes of African, Iraqi and Syrian refugees in subsequent decades.
Psycho-Social Services and Training Institute in Cairo
The Psycho-Social Services and Training Institute in Cairo (PSTIC) is an initiative that initiated in 2009. It is affiliated with Terre des Hommes (TdH) Egypt and American University in Cairo (AUC) Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS). PSTIC offers a range of training courses and workshops, and through its professional supervision oversees mental health and psychosocial support services provided to refugees and asylum seekers. Referrals of people in need come to PSTIC affiliated Psychosocial Workers (PSWs) from their communities; UNHCR, NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs); or self-referral.
By the closing of the campaign, BAIFA organized a seminar on the 28th of September, in cooperation with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency; and the Psycho-Social Services and Training Institute in Cairo (PSTIC)/Terre des Hommes. During the seminar, we shed light on the refugees in Africa, and the causes of their fleeing and asylum seeking. In addition, the psychological and mental health challenges facing the refugees, and how science and research play roles in overcoming depression affecting them, were also addressed.
Success Stories:
In this context a number of Egypt-resident African refugees were invited to share their own success stories during the seminar to present an excellent example of their persistence to lead a better life.
Success story by Ameen Ahmed Seddig from Sudan
Success story by Teresa Amous from Sudan
Speakers' Interventions:
Psycho Social and Mental Health Consequences of African Refugees
Dr. Nancy Baron
Fundamental role played by the academic research in overcoming depression
Dr. Muhamad Al-Zawawy
The role of gamification activities in psycho social support
Mr. Omar Al-Sabagh
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