<br>

Documentation of DAY ONE


Presentation I

The Changing Landscape of Women’s Mental Health: COVID-19 and its Impact

By Fatima Batool from the World Health Organization (WHO)

The presentation will look at the current status of women’s mental health overall, how COVID-19 has affected it and what can be done about it.


Presentation II

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Services Reform in Moldova

By Valeriu Sava, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Moldova

Switzerland is supporting Moldova in a systemic reform of the mental health (MH) care system, aimed at bringing MH services closer to users by providing treatment in a community setting.


Presentation III

From despair to hope – How I became a lawyer and psychotherapist for abused women and children in Cameroon

By Marie Angele Abanga, Lawyer, Author and Psychotherapist, Cameroon Executive and African Regional Representative Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN)

Before the Covid-19 pandemic I had been to hell and back in my 6-year-marriage. The pandemic brought even more terror of domestic and sexual violence in my country.


Presentation IV

Gender-based Violence and Femicide and Covid19 Combination in South Africa: Women’s Worst Ordeal

By Sinikiwe Biyela Life Line, South Africa

South Africa as a country has some resources and systems in place to protect and provide support to the survivors of GBVF. However, all these resources proved to be inadequate or not accessible at all during Covid19 pandemic followed by the national lockdown level 5.


<br>

Documentation of DAY TWO


Presentation I

Being a Compassionate Witness to the Impact of Violence: Self-care as Professional Obligation

By Simone Lindorfer independent psychosocial consultant, trauma specialist (Austria)

The input will deal with the most common known consequences of compassionate related caring for the well-being of the health professional as well as give an idea on self-care and organizational care as professional obligation.


Presentation II

Stories of War. Healing the Wounds of Gender based Violence

By Lumumba Mukong Mission 21 Cameroon

This talk aims at sharing the stories of persons who have suffered from Gender Based Violence, within the framework of the ongoing crisis (war) in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.


Presentation III

Mental Health in Primary Care. A Review of Abuse Reported in Rural Zimbabwe, before and during the COVID-19 Era

by Janneke H. van Dijk, SolidarMed Zimbabwe

To promote mental health care and relieve the strain on health facilities, SolidarMed Zimbabwe supported the roll out of the Friendship Bench initiative in one of the rural districts in Masvingo Province since 2019.


Presentation IV

The Reckoning of Sol

By Ayanda Makayi, MTV Shuga

We’re used to seeing the story of the victim. But we need to understand the story of the perpetrator. We need to look at a solution outside of simple condemnation. Aggressors can only be helped to change if we understand the causes of their violence and employ our empathy.