Abstract

The Association St. Camille de Lellis, a Catholic charitable association, serves people with mental health problems in Côte d'Ivoire. The remarkable work of the association, whose innovative character was recognized by the World Health Organization in a recent report, is situated in a particular socio-political and cultural context that combines solidarity and rejection. We describe this context, then we show how the association's activities open the way to new solutions for both developing and industrialized countries. We then present some information and analysis regarding “African madness,” and go on to consider the nature of mental health policies and services in a continent where chronic shortages of financial and material resources have a major impact on African populations. We found 3 of the Association St. Camille de Lellis's practices especially promising: people taking control of their futures, the protection of people's rights, and the establishment of social enterprises. At the same time, we also retain a critical point of view regarding the Association's experience, and we examine the obstacles to replication of this experience in other sites, the therapeutic and psycho-social consequences of some of its practices, and issues regarding financing.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.