Our mission is to enable people with mental health conditions or epilepsy and their families to live and work successfully in their communities by combining health, socio-economic and community orientated solutions with changes in policy, practice and resource allocation.
It is part of the BasicNeeds Network
BNUU core intervention areas
Community mental health
We provide mental health services to persons with mental health conditions and epilepsy which include the provision of medical treatment, counselling, home visits, and mental health education for service users and establishing sustainable supply of mental health medicines by initiating community drug bank
Capacity building
We sensitize and train mental health stakeholders which includes both health workers and none health workers (police, community development officers, local leaders, religious leaders, traditional healers and other relevant government employees). We sensitize and train these stakeholders using the WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme intervention guide (mhGAP-IG) for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialists health settings.
Sustainable livelihoods
We promote sustainable livelihoods by supporting stabilized persons with mental health conditions and epilepsy and their caregivers to resume their original work and/or identify suitable business opportunities in their local community that will enable them enter the local market. BNUU support them to match individual skills and capabilities to available business opportunities and provide them with start-up funds.
Research, advocacy and collaboration
We conduct research, record change stories and empower service users to advocate for better mental health services and influence policy.
St Bahkita Voccational Training Centre, Kalongo Town Council, Agago District, Uganda
