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What we do

PDO works with a team of professionals in Psychology,  Psychiatry and Sociology, and trained peers and advocates to make mental health services accessible at the grassroots.

What we do

1. Mental health advocacy and awareness - to promote the human rights for people living with mental disorders and to reduce stigma and discrimination;
2. Provision of quality affordable community-based treatment services ;
3. Social support to promote recovery and reduces relapses through support groups, home visits and telepsychiatry.

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Covid-19 response activities

1. E-Therapy and psychiatric consultations
Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Kenya and subsequently some restrictions were enforced, a new surge of mental illness followed. PDO quickly combining our traditional approach - face-to-face with e-therapy to reach many living in low income setting in Nakuru. Over 150 sessions have been carried out since April 2020 .

2. Medication, food and social support
PDO serves the poor and marginalized in their community. After many people lost their jobs, PDO has been providing medication and food support to the most vulnerable. We have provided free consultation, therapy, medication, food and social support to over 60 patients worst affected by a combination Covid-19 socio-economic impacts and mental illness
 
3. Therapists self-care sessions
Inevitably, the prolonged duration of handling clients without a break started taking a toll and that they were suffering burnout. PDO initiated the ‘taking care of the carer’ monthly self-care outing for our responders to help them rejuvenate and re-energize ready to respond to the rising number of Covid-19 related mental health cases in our community.  We have done 4 sessions with a total of 67 people served
 
4. Covid-19 health workers well-being
Covid-19 response health workers are among the groups most affected by pandemic’s mental health impacts. They work under very stressful for them. The stigma that comes with working in the ward compounded their problems and PDO conducted psychological interventions for them to help them ease stress and burnout.  A total of 856 Covid-19 health workers in Nakuru Level 5, Naivasha, Tigoni hospitals, Port Reitz, Shimo La Tewa, King'ong'o prisons and those at Nakuru Prison isolation unit, and Nurses at Nakuru Level 5 hospital have benefited from our psychosocial support packaged.
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