Mary Mandera, a resilient 40-year-old South Sudanese refugee living in Pagirinya settlement, Adjumani district, shares her journey of triumph.
“When the war erupted in South Sudan, I was separated from my husband. Arriving in Uganda, I felt overwhelmed and isolated, with my children unwilling to assist with household and farming tasks. As a devoted mother of four, providing for my family became an uphill battle, relying on selling charcoal and engaging in small-scale farming.”
Adding to the difficulties, Mary has been living with HIV for the past several years which has increased her depression. This depression is manifested by feelings of sadness and a continued tendency to isolate herself from the community.
“I used to find myself having dark thoughts, contemplating suicide, and struggling to maintain my HIV treatment (ART).”
In the face of many challenges, Mary’s life took a significant turn when she discovered Interpersonal Group Therapy (IPT-G) sessions. Her story changed when a compassionate AFOD-StrongMinds Mental Health volunteer introduced her to counseling sessions within an IPT-G supportive group of Lokokwo group meaning ‘changing life’
Determined to rewrite her story, she made a resolute commitment to attend sessions every Monday for eight weeks, diligently attending ART treatment, completing personal tasks, and sharing her progress upon her return.
“During the sessions, I openly discussed my problems and the group members encouraged me to communicate my pain to my children. I got the courage to have an open conversation with my children, and shared the profound effects of their behaviour on my health where they responded with remorse and a promise to change.” Mary continues to share, “After a short time, my children began to actively support me with household chores, farming, and becoming more collaborative in supporting me during my ART visits.”
Within three weeks, Mary witnessed remarkable improvements in her health and the dynamics within her family.
“As a result of attending the IPT-G sessions, I no longer feel the urge to commit suicide and currently my adherence to ART has improved as witnessed by my 95% score in the viral load non-suppressed register.”
Empowered by her transformative group experience, Mary now understands the importance of having safe spaces to share personal challenges and now has the skills to support friends battling depression. She looks forward to embarking on a continued journey of extending a helping hand to others, spreading the vital message that recovery and hope are always within reach.
“Reflecting on my journey, seeking help is important. I look forward to supporting others struggling with depression for there is hope for recovery.”
Just like Mary, many women’s lives are being transformed by these therapy sessions. AFOD and StrongMinds are continuing to expand the program to other refugee and hosting communities around Adjumani. This effort highlights the commitment toward empowering and supporting more individuals to create lasting change and foster resilience within these communities.
