On World Mental Health Day, Catholic Entity Highlights Mental Health Initiatives in Africa

“This ‘listening point’ provides a safe space for survivors of violence to seek support,” Trócaire officials say in the October 10 report.

Katembo Bernard who is a volunteer at the “Listening point” is quoted saying, “There are so many cases of violence against women in this village.” 

“It makes me shocked; it makes me really angry,” Mr. Katembo says.

According to Trócaire officials, “Katembo supports survivors of gender-based violence in Butiaba village who come to the ‘listening point’. Together with other volunteers, he helps survivors to seek medical, legal and psychological support.”

“These supports can make a huge difference for survivors as they seek recovery, healing and justice,” they add.

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In Rwanda, Trócaire officials make reference to 1994 genocide during which “up to one million people were killed in just 100 days”.

“A Trócaire study revealed that a staggering 80% of Rwandans were traumatised following the genocide,” officials of the overseas development agency of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland say, and add, “Over the last 27 years, Trócaire has provided vital trauma counselling and reconciliation programmes that support healing.”

The October 9 report indicates that 54-year-old Uwizeyimana Immaculee and 60-year-old Nunigantama Vianney have been reconciled thanks to the “Healing trauma after Genocide” initiative in the country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge.

Nunigantama, who was one of the perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, murdered members of Immaculee’s own family, the report indicates, and continues, “Immaculee began to abuse drugs to try and block out the pain of what had happened to her. Vianney was sent to prison. Later he would be released, yet he struggled with his own mental health, contemplating suicide,” 

“I couldn’t understand why he would be released. I went mad,” Immaculee has been quoted as saying about the family friend who murdered members of her own family, adding, “I was traumatized. I lost hope in life for a long time.”

In the October 10 report, officials of the Catholic entity say, “Through a Trócaire project, both of them joined a ‘unity and reconciliation group’ and ultimately reconciled.”

“It took over three years of hard work to build trust and understanding through group activities, meetings and mediation,” Trócaire officials say, and add, “Ultimately forgiveness has come, allowing them both to move past the horror of the past, and remarkably, to become friends.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.