The Hospital Order of San Juan de Dios in Spain has launched the three-video miniseries ‘En ruta por la salud mental’, a production that showcases the institution’s work in providing care to people with mental disorders in rural areas of Senegal.
With two mental health centers in the country that serve people with mental health issues from Mauritania and Mali, San Juan de Dios has assisted over 25,000 individuals in 13 rural communities, as stated in a press release.
The series, available starting on Tuesday, March 25, on the website ‘juanciudad.org/en-ruta-por-la-salud-mental’, aims to raise awareness about the reality of mental health in West Africa and the impact of the community mental health project developed in the country.
Each episode highlights, from a different perspective, the importance of this healthcare intervention that seeks to address the needs of individuals suffering from mental health problems in Senegal who lack specialized services. Additionally, half of psychiatric services are concentrated in Dakar, leaving many rural communities underserved, as warned by the NGO.
The miniseries was produced by photojournalist Pablo Tosco (World Press Photo 2021) in collaboration with Juan Ciudad ONGD, and through the experiences of patients, family members, and professionals from San Juan de Dios, it documents the project’s impact on the communities served and the challenges faced by individuals with mental disorders in Senegal.
«The community health approach is one of the pillars of the international cooperation carried out by San Juan de Dios in 16 countries because it is the most efficient strategy to improve the health of the population,» stated Gonzalo Sales, director of Juan Ciudad ONGD.
Dalal Xel, which means «calming the spirit» in Wolof, is the name of the two mental health centers of the Hospital Order in Thiès and Fatick (Senegal), where the community mental health project was born in 2020 with the support of Juan Ciudad ONGD, the international cooperation organization of San Juan de Dios Spain.
The two Dalal Xel mental health centers annually serve approximately 27,000 men and women, both adults and youth, with mental health issues from all over Senegal and even neighboring countries like Mauritania and Mali. Both facilities are twinned with the Parc Sanitiri SJD in Sant Boi de Llobregat.
A study conducted at the Dalal Xel center in Thiès identified an increase in new patients among the 15 to 25-year-old population, with the three most common diagnoses for this group being epilepsy (20%), substance use-related disorders (13%), and schizophrenia (12%). The profile is characterized by an average age of 20 years, male gender, and rural background.
One of the main challenges in treating mental disorders in Senegal is the strong social stigma faced by affected individuals. Many families first turn to traditional healers or hide the sick due to fear of discrimination.
San Juan de Dios aims to integrate medical knowledge with local traditions, promoting awareness in communities and supporting families in the treatment process. This approach has reduced treatment abandonment and improved the quality of life for patients, according to the organization.
In this regard, Suzane Niuki, the coordinator of the community mental health program at the Dalal Xel Center in Thiès, stated, «When the patient is stable, everyone is at peace.»
FUENTE