BasicNeeds Lao : Mental health is a right, not a privilege
Capacity building :
Community Mental Health :
Mentally ill people are given a voice, through consultation and group activities, then encouraged to make decisions for themselves. BasicNeeds aims at strengthening existing skills and structures to improve the ability of health care professionals and volunteers to deal with mental disorders. Training ensures the necessary knowledge to recognize mental health issues - often ignored - and permit to deliver more effective mental health care
Animation is a central tool of capacity building as it helps patients to feel part of a united community and never feel abandoned. They develop their self expression and gain confidence to speak in front of an audience.
In order to cope with the demand for mental health services outside Vientiane, BasicNeeds optimizes the use of the states’ resources and builds partnerships with community workers who provide on-going support and treatment to mentally ill people.
Sustainable Livelihood :
BasicNeeds helps mentally ill people to develop new skills (selling organic fertiliser, rearing livestock and selling excess produce from kitchen gardens) and find a job, improving their social status and combating stigma and exclusion. ‘’I give training to patients in the BasicNeeds programme, teaching them the skills they need to produce fruit and vegetables so they can support themselves and their families. So far we have conducted this training successfully in six districts in Vientiane, as well as 3 districts in the Borikhamxay province, which has some of the poorest districts in Lao PDR.’’ said Mr Kham Khay Phounsomsavanh working with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Not only do sustainable livelihoods secure their treatment but also reinforce their sense of self-confidence. ‘’Once they have the skills and can work, I believe it also supports their mental treatment and therapy; it seems to help their confidence, and they develop good interpersonal skills. Also, when patients are involved in these activities it helps them to get accepted more in society. Some are even selling their produce in an organic market’’ said Mr Kham Khay Phounsomsavanh.
Research :
Producing regular reports allows better understanding of the actual changes that have occurred in the lives of people with mental disorders. The analyzed data, which includes mentally ill people’s testimonies, is used to bring about change in policy and constitute a knowledge base.
Managment and Administration :
Management and administration are the driving forces of BasicNeeds’ work as they link all the modules. Fundraising, collecting data and sharing information with partners such as local authorities and the Ministry of Health, are key elements to undertake a sustainable mental health plan on a national scale.
The model counts five interlinked modules :
