4 ways Trócaire protects mental health around the world

Imagine if your loved ones were affected by the horrors of war, were forced to flee their homes and become refugees, had experienced torture or other human rights abuses, or had experienced sexual violence. In many of the countries that Trócaire works in, people are severely affected by trauma because of these types of incidents.

To mark World Mental Health Day 2023, we look at five inspiring projects around the world and powerful personal stories where we are supporting, caring and nurturing people’s wellbeing. These projects help people to cope with trauma, to live a life of dignity, to recover, to heal, to seek justice. They are made possible through your generous support to Trócaire’s work.

1. A ‘Safe haven’ for Syrian refugee children to play

Eleven-year-old Maya plays freely on the swings, laughing with her siblings. She has a big grin on her face and it is clear that she feels relaxed and safe.

Here, in the ‘Safe Haven’ centre in Bar Elias, Lebanon, the war in Syria and the hardships her family has endured are distant memories.

Maya, who featured on the 2020 Trócaire box, is a refugee from Syria. Her family has been pushed from their land as a result of civil war, and they have fled to safety into Lebanon.

The Syrian conflict, now in its 12th year, has resulted in huge amounts of trauma. Half the population have been forced from their homes. Almost 5 million children have been born in Syria in the last decade knowing only war. As a result, over half of refugees have experienced a severe emotional disorder.

Trócaire’s local partner SAWA is providing Maya and her community with this ‘Safe Haven’ centre where children can play in the playground, do art and attend classes. It feels like a breath of fresh air to enter the centre, which has a wide open playground area surrounded by flowers.

The children attending the centre enjoy playing on the swings, clambering up the climbing frame and spinning around in the playground. The playground uses colourful materials to help children feel safe and relaxed, so they can escape the hardships of daily life in the refugee camps and have fun with other children.

2. Helping survivors of gender-based violence in Guatemala

A high proportion of violations have been committed against community leaders, and against women in Guatemala. During the 36-year-long Guatemalan civil war (1960 – 1996), indigenous women were systematically raped and enslaved by the military.

In January 2007, 11 Q’eqchi women from the community of Lote Ocho in the Polochic Valley in Guatemala suffered serious abuses during an armed eviction from their land to make way for a Canadian mining company. 

For a long time, the women did not talk about what happened that afternoon, not even to each other. 

“On that day in 2007, all the joy and happiness in our community disappeared,” Margarita Caal Caal said. 

“The mining company and police came to evict us. They raped us, they burned our houses and destroyed everything we had. We were pushed into extreme poverty.” 

The mother-of-six said that her community previously lived a happy and peaceful life and were able to grow their own food. Now, the mining company has destroyed the land. 

“The land is not as rich as it was before. The rivers are drying up and we are worried our children will have no water.” 

“We struggled for many years until now. It was very painful what we lived through.” 

Trócaire and local partner Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial (ECAP) are providing emotional and psychosocial support to the women of Lote Ocho.  

The women are now seeking justice for the crimes committed against them in national and international courts. 

“We came together as a group of women to seek justice, but as of yet, we have not been heard,” Caal Caal said. “We want to let the world know what happened to us indigenous women.” 

“We want to avoid this happening again to other women and to the next generation.” 

3. ‘Listening points’ in DR Congo for survivors of Gender Based Violence

From the outside, it isn’t much to look at. Yet a small hut in a remote village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a lifeline to many women who are affected by violence here. This ‘listening point’ provides a safe space for survivors of violence to seek support.

Ituri province of DRC has seen some of the worst human rights abuses of Congo’s long running conflicts. This has included large-scale massacres and widespread sexual violence.

Gender inequality remains a deep-rooted issue in DRC. When women challenge these norms, gender-based violence is often used as a tactic against them. Sexual violence has also been used as a military tactic by armed forces.

“There are so many cases of violence against women in this village,” said Katembo Bernard who volunteers at the listening point. “It makes me shocked, it makes me really angry.”

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.

4. Healing trauma after gender-based violence in Somalia

Amina*, a mother-of-three from the Bay region of Somalia, was forced to flee her home when drought destroyed her crops and her animals died. 

The family sought refuge at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Luuq district in Gedo, Somalia but the family continued to experience hunger and hardships.  

Not long after the family moved to the camp, Amina became a victim of sexual and physical harassment. This led to Amina suffering with depression, causing her to isolate from the community.  

Trócaire works in the Luuq district to end gender-based violence and to provide support to those affected. In Somalia, women are often victims of female genital mutilation and early forced marriage, rape, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and more.  

Trócaire provides support to survivors such as medical treatment, psychosocial support and GBV prevention and community response programmes. Trócaire also distributes dignity kits and solar lamps to women to increase safety during dark hours.  

Mustaf is one of Trócaire’s 23 programme support officer currently working in the Luuq district. He met Amina during one of his door-to-door visits to check on members of the community. 

Amina shared her story with Mustaf and Amina was referred to a protection centre where she could receive psychosocial assistance, medication and dignity kits. Amina attended several sessions, gradually finding some healing. 

Amina also participated in a women’s empowering skills training programme run by Trócaire and learned how to tailor clothes.  

“After all the support, my life changed for the better, and now I have all the necessary support from Trócaire,” Amina said. “My hope and request are that Trócaire continues to support the women and girls in Gedo.” 

*Names have been changed