By Francis Okot Oyat (Published 4th December 2017)

On Sunday 3rd December we once again commemorated International Day of Disabled Persons under the theme Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for All”. It is an important day proclaimed and observed by the United Nations since 1992 for promoting and creating awareness about the plights of persons living with

By Francis Okot Oyat (Published on 13th September 2017)

In many African countries confronted with escalating conflict, protection issues of children remain a major challenge. UNHCR says children make up to 62% of the 1.8 million people displaced by fighting in South Sudan, and more than 75,000 unaccompanied minors have fled to Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. (Sudan Tribune, 18th May 2017).  In conflict situations children are exposed to a wide range of abuses, including defilement, abduction and forceful recruitment into military forces or groups, sexual slavery and exploitation leading to early pregnancy and early parenthood, brutal murder of adults creating unaccompanied and orphaned children, torture and physical brutality, and forceful displacement. Refugee children with limited physical and psychological

By Yusrah Nagujja, Anthony Ochora & Jaclyn Kerr (Published 10th October 2017)

The theme for this World Mental Health Day, is “Mental Health in the Work Place”. With over 300 million people suffering from depression worldwide and 260 million suffering with anxiety disorders (WHO, 2017), it is estimated that these disorders result in approximately US$1 trillion in lost productivity within the global economy (WHO, 2017). Thus, this theme is quite timely.

By Kampogo Mary Tumusiime and Yusrah Nagujja Kuteesa (Published 10th October 2016)

World Mental Health Day was first celebrated on 10th October 1992, nearly quarter of a century ago. This year the theme set by the World Health Organisation calls us to address the question of “Psychological first aid”.

Psychological First Aid refers to a range of natural, supportive and practical strategies used to reduce the painful range of emotions and responses experienced by people who are or have been exposed to high stress. Psychological first aid emphasizes listening without pressing the person to talk; assessing needs and concerns; ensuring that basic physical needs are met; providing or mobilizing social support, and providing essential information.