Participant Voices

 


I was taken through the treatment process which has changed my life positively in many different ways unlike before where I had a lot of worries on what I was going to eat, school fees for my children and daily upkeep.
After all that I learnt  many skills like importance of sharing, having people around you to share what you are going through makes you to get solutions to some problems and also see a way of balancing things.

Male IPT participant, aged 50-54 years, Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at baseline 

When I started attending weekly IPT sessions, I felt some ease and change in my life, I could now sleep efficiently until morning, perform my duties and responsibilities well without stress, and even the tiredness also sublimes, I was now re-energized with less bad memories, there was also my brothers kid who had an accident after university completion and working, he was pushed out from a running vehicle and he died instantly, this memories kept flashing in my mind.  But when I started IPT, all these memories sublimes and now I feel I’m in good health. I can just appeal to anyone who might have not joined SMART DAPPER to join, they’re helping people.

Female IPT participant, aged 45-49, Diagnosed with MDD and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at baseline

I would say SMART DAPPER really supported me, before I came here I could not even perform my duties and responsibilities well, I felt pain in body joints, too much headache and I had misunderstanding in my marriage, I used to quarrel with my spouse most of the time, I had even thought of moving out of my marriage.

SMART DAPPER has brought improvement in my life, all illness reduced, the pressure I had was all about depression and stress so when I completed 12 weeks treatment I was healed, I did not take any medication and now I’m healed, only 12 weeks of IPT. Now my business runs wells, I start at 9am until evening hours, so I have improved a lot.

Female IPT Participant, 45-49 years old, Diagnosed with MDD at baseline 

Before I joined this treatment I had a lot of stress. I could not even sit where people are. I could not talk even to my friends or even to my neighbors. I could just sit alone thinking about negative things. All the time I was just crying, all the time I was dull, I was sad.

But when I joined the treatment and start getting these drugs every day I used to make a step, good steps day by day as it was continuing with the drugs. But when I continued with the drugs until the last minute, after the treatment I saw my life it was completely changed…

Everything in my brain is thinking quickly as compared to before... As of now I am so active, I can do most of my things, I can think positively all the time, I can do everything I want..

Female flouxetine participant, 25-29 years, Diagnosed with MDD and PTSD at baseline

Before starting treatment, I was much stressed up and depressed, I was so down, very tired and I could not even sleep or perform by responsibilities as required, having bad memories, I used to be moody and isolated. When I started treatment, I felt relieved from all this bondage, I was treated and up to date I’m well.

Female fluoxetine participant, 35-39 years, Diagnosed with PTSD at baseline

 


Planning Committee World Mental Health Day

Planning committee

World Mental Health Day Procession

World Mental Health Day Procession

Planning Committee Visits Mental Health Ward

Planning Committee visits Kisumu County Hospital Mental Health Ward

 

 

SMART-DAPPER Team Participating in the Procession 

SMART-DAPPER team participating in the procession

Denis Oluoch, Assistant Lead Therapist for the SMART-DAPPER

SMART-DAPPER team participating in the procession