Peer Nation News

PEER NATION AT FIVE

PEER NATION AT FIVE

Peer Nation is a mental health service user led and managed organization initiated by participants from the seven-year Brain Gain Peer Support Work Programme, that was managed by the Butabika East London Link in Uganda, from 2011 to 2018. The organization was incorporated into legal status on 12th March 2019 as a charitable company limited by guarantee, making five years today. Our membership is comprised of seventy-two members who include mental health service users that have gone on to train as peer support workers, carers and some mental health professionals.

Our;

Vision: Creating a dignified society with mental health for all.

Mission: To attain sustainable mental health recovery by enhancing better living standards for all through knowledge gain, partnership, advocacy and independent living.

Goal: To provide psycho – social support to mental health survivors, those who care for them and their communities.

Shortly after our incorporation as Peer Nation, we submitted our Peer Support Work concept to Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) in 2019 and luckily enough we got the grant. It was our first grant titled ‘Institutional Strengthening and outreach peer support project’, which ran from January 2020 – July 2021.  With this funding we were able to do a lot of outreach peer support work with health centers in areas such as Kitetika, Nansana, Kitebi and Nkonkonjeru. This helped drive our mission of increasing mental health awareness.  With these funds we were also able to cover some of our overheads such as staff salaries and rent for our office premises. We also capitalised on procuring office furniture and equipment.  The highlight of this project was being able to register Peer Nation as a national indigenous non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Uganda with a five years’ operating permit on the 24th day of February 2021.

Shortly thereafter, we were honored to get a new grant from the UK Department of Health and Social Care (UK DHSC) managed by Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).  This grant ran from July 2021 – August 2022.  With this grant we were able to carry out activities that included a training of trainers (TOT) for ten peer support workers.  Some of them, alongside our UK consultant, went on to train 20 clinical staff from health facilities in the project areas to serve as peer support worker supervisors.  The identified project areas included Arua and Mbarara Regional referral hospitals, as well as Nakivale and Yinga Imvepi refugee settlement areas.  Ten short films were also produced to complement the didactic peer support worker training.  Seventy-two (72) mental health service users in the project regions were trained to become peer support workers to carry out work in the aforementioned areas.  Additionally, we were able to translate our Mental Health Peer Support work training manual from English to five languages that include Arabic, Kiswahili, Kinyrwanda, Runyankole – Rukiga and Lugbara.  These training manuals, together with the Butabika Recovery Manual, are now hosted on our Peer Nation website (https://www.peernation.org/manuals/) ready for the general public to download at will and at zero cost.

Between October 2022 – September 2023 we were able to get another Institutional Strengthening Grant from OSIEA.  We utilized this by engaging in community mental health awareness raising through the Kampala Mental Health Film Club, whereby we showcased different films and documentaries every last Tuesday of the month at the National Theatre. We were however challenged with continuing the films due to the need to have them classified by Uganda Media Council as a requirement from Uganda Communication Commission (UCC).  By the time this happened, in November 2023, we had showcased eleven (11) films.  Furthermore, with this grant we were able to further capitalise by procuring more office equipment and provide capacity building training for our members.  As a highlight for this particular project, Peer Nation was awarded charity status with income tax exemption certificate from the Uganda Revenue Authority, something that was long waited for.

The main challenge we are faced with is sustaining the funding to continue the work further.  Along the way we have lost some of our dear members who have gone to meet the lord namely: Rashid Male, Hamza Diambo, Isaac Dhatemwa, Doreen Byaruhanga and recently Grace Tebandeke.  May their souls rest in eternal peace and let perpetual light shine upon them.

As we move forward here are some of our forecasts for the next five years: We would like to have some form of physical presence in all the four regions of Uganda namely; Northern, Eastern, Central and Western region.  We would like to increase our membership significantly by having a national appeal and character. We thank all the funders that have moved with us along this journey, and the respective individual contributions from the various friends that have come to our aid.  We would still wish and love to move with you further afield. That said however, we would still need more funders to come on board to enable Peer Nation to take this work to the next level.  We hope and are looking forward to resuming our Mental Health Film Club at the National Theatre in Kampala, once all the necessary modalities are in place.  We thank all of you who have supported our film club in anyway and in particular we would like in a special way to thank those of you who spared time to come along and attend, making the evenings memorable by voicing your contributions at the discussions after the film screening.

With these few remarks, allow us to say happy anniversary to Peer Nation at 5!!

Peer Nation Secretariat.

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Events

KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS “PSYCHOSIS AND ME”

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PSYCHOSIS AND ME

British actor David Harewood had a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned in his 20s.

David traces his steps, meeting young people living with psychosis and the health professionals who treat them…

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 26th September 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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Events

KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS “ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES”

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

The story of Violet Markey and Theodore Finch, who meet and change each other’s lives forever.

As they struggle with the emotional and physical scars of their past, they come together, discovering that even the smallest places and moments can mean something…

Certificate 15: Sex and Nudity, Violence, Profanity, Alcohol and Drugs, Distressinbg Scenes

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 29th August 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS: ‘FED UP’

A documentary looking at America’s obesity epidemic and the food industry’s role in making things worse…

Rated PG for thematic elements including smoking images, and brief mild language

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 25th July 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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‘WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS’ PRESENTED BY KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB.

WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS

A teenager coping with mental health challenges tries to hide his problems from a girl he meets:

“When you can’t trust your head, trust your heart…”

(No certification)

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 27th June 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS… ‘HEAL’

HEAL

A documentary film that takes us on a scientific and spiritual journey where we discover that by changing our perceptions, the human body can heal itself…

(No certification)

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 30th May 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS ‘THE GAMBLER’

THE GAMBLER

Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice.

When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally some bad guys that chase him.

Despite all of this, he cannot stop gambling…

(Certification 18: Mild profanity, mild sex, mild violence and gore, mild alcohol and drug use, some frightening and intense scenes)

Film followed by discussion

FREE admission, All welcome

Tuesday 2nd May 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts: 07027 77641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between

Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika- East London Link

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CBS POWESAEvents

Peer Nation Exhibit Products and Services Made Through Beautiful Minds at The Cbs Pewosa Trade Fair 2023

The CBS PEWOSA Trade Fair 2023 in Lubiri Palace Mengo is currently underway, and it’s the perfect opportunity to discover the vibrant products and services of Peer Nation through the beautiful minds behind them.

Some of Peer Nation Members Displaying Products during the Trade Fair

Peer Nation covers the deficit in community mental health, provides care and supports, carries out mental health outreaches taking services to lower grade health centers and communities.

At the CBS PEWOSA Trade Fair 2023, Peer Nation is showcasing a wide variety of products and services from Beautiful Minds activities as shown in the Photos Below:

Some of Product Exhibited by Peer Nation at the Trade fair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So if you’re in the Lubiri Palace Mengo area between April 15th an 11th, be sure to sop by the CBS POWESA Trade Fair 2023 and discover the vibrant products and services of Peer Nation through the beautiful minds.

Some of Product Exhibited by Peer Nation at the Trade fair
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Boy interrupted - Evan Perry the 15-year old boy who comitted sucideEvents

KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB PRESENTS….

 

The “Boy Interrupted” free movie event will be held on Tuesday 28th March 2023  at The National Theatre (Green Room), Uganda National Cultural Center starting at 6:30pm.

“Boy Interrupted” is a powerful and moving documentary that sheds light on the devastating effects of mental illness. Mental illness is a topic that is often stigmatized and misunderstood. However, the documentary “Boy Interrupted” seeks to change that.

This film takes an intimate look at one family’s journey through the devastating effects of mental illness, particularly the story of their son who tragically committed suicide. Evan Perry was a 15-year-old boy who struggled with bipolar disorder and ultimately died by suicide in 2005.

The documentary promises to be an emotional and enlightening experience for all who attend.We encourage everyone to join us for this important event and to help raise awareness about mental health issues. Entrance will be free for all, so don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity.

Additionally, mental health experts will be on hand to provide resources and support for those who may be struggling with mental illness themselves or know someone who is.

[Not certified: Scenes of mental distress are depicted]

If you are affected by the content of the film, please stay at the end of the film to access the discussion, speak to the organisers or contact the phone. Contacts: 0702777641 or 0773063473

A collaboration between Peer nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and Butabika-East London Link

 

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Events

STRANGE VOICES – KAMPALA MENTAL HEALTH FILM CLUB

A daughter’s torment, a mother’s heartbreak. A couple’s relationship is thrown into chaos when their college age daughter starts to behave differently, become paranoid about people around her and hear voices. This film explores her and her family’s journey to make sense of her experiences

(Not certified: Scenes of mental distress are depicted)

Film followed by discussion
FREE admission, All welcome

  • Tuesday 28th February 2023 at 6.30 pm

The Green Room, The National Theatre, Ugandan National Cultural Centre

Contacts:
0702 777 641 or 0773 063 473

A collaboration between
Peer Nation, Film Club Uganda, Uganda National Cultural Centre and the Butabika East London Link

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