The
Mindful Change Foundation (MCF) supports social-psychiatric projects in developing countries that aim to improve the care of people with mental and epileptic illnesses and psychosocial disabilities.
MCF currently operates in two regions of West Africa: In the surroundings of Bouaké, the second largest city in Côte d’Ivoire, we support the SAMENTACOM
(https://samentacom-ci.org) project, in collaboration with the local university and the National Program for Psychiatry. Around Piéla in Burkina Faso we support the organization Yenfaabima e.V. which was founded in 2015.
Specifically, the foundation participates in the conceptual development of the projects, their technical support, and funding. This support includes the training of health workers and other relevant groups in the treatment of mental and epileptic diseases, outreach supervision, logistics (vehicles, etc.), supply of medication, coordination, organisation, and evaluation of the projects. In individual cases, the foundation is involved in essential humanitarian health promotion measures (repairing wells, improving hygiene, financing necessary medical treatment, etc.).
Social-psychiatric work also includes a commitment to the destigmatisation of mental illnesses and to tolerance of disease-related behaviour.
The foundation also promotes exchange and cooperation between humanitarian, therapeutic, and human rights organisations and self-help organisations. It supports all efforts to research the situation of the people affected and to draw their attention to it. This includes public relations work at national and international level.
