Action Research on Mental Health Care in Sierra Leone

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04431
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 80010:Area studies-related
• Research Institution: Ryukoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ochiai Takehiko 龍谷大学, 法学部, 教授 (30296305)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 金田 知子 神戸女学院大学, 文学部, 教授 (10351850)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アフリカ / シエラレオネ / メンタルヘルス / 当事者 / エンパワメント / 家族

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, we conducted a field research focusing on the budding movement of self-help and empowerment for people with mental disabilities and their families in Sierra Leone. Specifically, we visited the Service Users and Family Members Association (SUFMA), an organization for people with mental disabilities and their families that was established in 2014 in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, to conduct interviews, and held a workshop to inform Sierra Leonean people about mental health-related practices in Japan.

Free Research Field

アフリカ研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題の学術的な意義は、第一に、シエラレオネで萌芽したばかりの精神障害当事者・家族のセルフヘルプや組織化の動きに焦点をあて、その動態を明らかにしたことにある。第二に、本研究課題では、日本におけるメンタルヘルス関連の諸実践の事例や教訓をシエラレオネ側の精神障害当事者・家族へと伝えることで、同国の精神障害当事者・家族のセルフヘルプ運動を側面から支援することができた。