Uganda

PARTNER

Peter C. Alderman Foundation

Recent studies estimate the prevalence of PTSD symptoms at 54%-74% and depression symptoms at 45%-67% in Uganda, a country that has weathered a 20-year civil conflict, considered one of the world’s worst.

More than 1.8 million people were displaced internally and exposed to extreme traumatic experiences including rape, torture, mutilation, abduction and destruction of property. Today, long after the conflict has ended, many Ugandans with PTSD and depression face challenges in returning to normal life, caring for their families or living productively. Yet psychiatric care is limited to cities, so the most vulnerable, who often live in northern rural areas, lack access to treatment.

The Peter C. Alderman Foundation has developed a public-private partnership with the government to establish four mental health teams in the district level hospitals of Gulu, Arua, Kitgum and Soroti. Because many traumatized individuals in remote areas are unable to reach these clinics, Fondation d’Harcourt supports regular outreaches by a multidisciplinary team and trusted community mobilizers who help identify, contact and treat patients at home. Group and individual therapy are available, depending on specific circumstances.

PCAF’s Group Support Psychotherapy intervention was developed locally through formative research and are evaluated using randomized controlled trials (in press, findings published in The Lancet, 2015).