A sustainable livelihood is a chance for a mentally ill person and their family to work their way out of poverty. Because mentally ill people are so often stigmatised due to their illness, they are often cast out from their jobs so, unable to work, they descend into poverty.

Sustainable livelihoods help mentally ill people earn a wage that is vital to their long-term recovery as it secures their treatment and builds an invaluable sense of self-esteem and confidence. We allow mentally ill people to choose a livelihood that they are interested in and give them training and support to follow it.

Getting a job also goes a very long way to combating stigma. People often think that mentally ill people can’t contribute to their family’s income and all they are is a drain on their family and their community. Once mentally ill people prove that they can do something constructive and make a worth while contribution to their family and their community, the stigma that they are faced with often disappears.

Sulemana had his first attack of epilepsy when he was 19. His illness forced him to move from Accra, the capital of Ghana, back to his home village of Gushiegu in the north. His illness had cause lots of resentment towards him; people pointed fingers and avoided him because they thought epilepsy was contagious.

We gave Sulemana treatment and the chance to work as a cobbler, something he had longed to do since he learnt the skill in Accra. Now he can support himself and people have noticed the transformation.

“I now have friends who come to sit with me throughout the day while I work. They, my neighbours and friends, are now even encouraging me to get married…Life now makes meaning to me!”

Sustainable livelihoods create sustainable recoveries and are a vital part of our work