Empowerment through peer-to-peer support

NOUSPR advocates and provides persons with psychosocial disabilities with a platform for a unified voice to enable them to access all necessary services and opportunities. In 2015 the program had some 1,200 members, 79 per cent of whom were persons who had themselves experienced mental health challenges.

Problems Targeted

Persons with intellectual disabilities face a lack of social support from the state, limited education and employment opportunities, and the absence of sustainable livelihoods. In addition, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse are commonly experienced in institutional settings.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Through peer-to-peer support, beneficiaries can better manage and address their individual needs, and families are trained to accommodate persons with disabilities. Income-generating activities increase their standard of living and enable them to contribute financially to their families and communities, which in turn leads to their being recognised as valuable members of society. Such activities also address feelings of low self-esteem and demonstrate to local officials that, given the right support and encouragement, people with disabilities can contribute positively to their community.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

NOUSPR plans to build the capacity of a national office and at least three district offices such that it will be able to represent the entire country’s psychiatric care users and survivors. The movement will be built from the ‘bottom up’, with NOUSPR working with communities in various districts. Currently, such a national umbrella organization does not exist, but it will be an important step towards networking and further cooperation among stakeholders and disabled people’s organizations. NOUSPR takes delivery of a new sewing machine, which will enable this self-help group to start and run a small-scale tailoring business.

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