Pervasive conflict and instability are at the centre of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Mali, and are two key contributors to the nation’s widespread mental health problems. Many report feelings of fear, sadness and hopelessness. In Bamba, Bourem and Gourma Rharous health districts, International Medical Corps conducted more than 1,600 medical consultations.
Most people who received mental health services in Gourma Rharous, where we conducted more than 630 medical consultations, traveled from remote areas, which have faced the worst of Mali’s humanitarian crisis and have the least access to care.
Zeinabou Yehiya, is the mother of a one-month-old boy. They live in Kardjiba, which is part of the Gourma Rharous health district.
When our staff observed Zeinabou’s intense distress during her initial consultation, our team referred her to the International Medical Corps-operated community mental health centre (CMHC), where—with support from the European Union (EU)—we provided Zeinabou with mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services over three consecutive months.
Upon her arrival for psychosocial support, she exhibited signs of depression and reported experiencing limited, dysregulated sleep. During a support session, she said, “I have no one to support me. People just tell me I have to stay in my house. It seems like no one understands my suffering. No one can imagine the conditions I live in.”
After receiving MHPSS, Zeinabou said, “It was the first time I have felt welcomed by a provider who actively listens to me, understands me and sympathizes with my emotional suffering. I learned stress-management strategies, as well as tips for adapting to social environments and becoming more resilient to psychological distress.”
She continued: “My emotional pain has been considerably reduced; I am able to carry out my daily social activities and have regained my normal strength to move forward. I no longer have a negative self-image, my sleep and appetite have improved, as has my overall functioning.”
I learned stress-management strategies, as well as tips for adapting to social environments and becoming more resilient to psychological distress.
Zeinabou Yehiya
To support the health of Zeinabou’s child, our team also provided prenatal care and vaccination services.
International Medical Corps staff provided Zeinabou with this humanitarian aid as part of an EU-supported emergency health and nutrition project. The project works closely with technical services and local authorities while emphasizing stakeholder participation. For example, we selected mobile clinic locations in collaboration with the health district.
Our mobile team—composed of a doctor, midwife, vaccination agent and psychosocial worker—has provided lifesaving care to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with disabilities living in remote areas and with limited access to care. Our services include curative consultations, maternal health services such as antenatal care (ANC), vaccination services with a particular focus on varicella-zoster virus (VAR), psychosocial support, screening and management of acute malnutrition cases, and referral of complicated cases
International Medical Corps proposes strengthening the current strategy we have implemented under the HIP 2024 program, which has proven effective in improving MHPSS care. The goal is to integrate MHPSS into the mobile medical unit’s services. International Medical Corps will continue to support community health by building capacity for health workers, providing outpatient consultations and training supervision, and providing psychotropic medications.
Our objective is to ensure the sustainability of MHPSS within health facilities through strong community involvement. Outside of health centres, our teams will implement MHPSS activities in the community as part of our work in protection, nutrition and other sectors. International Medical Corps will conduct regular monitoring of these activities to guarantee the quality of services provided. Furthermore, appropriate communication materials will be provided to community liaisons as part of mental health education activities.
