In Uganda, the lack of accessible community-based mental health services and high levels of social stigma prevent young people from being able to acknowledge and address their mental health needs. Youth in institutional care are particularly vulnerable given the high levels of neglect and abuse prevalent. Child’s i Foundation will address the gap in integrated mental health and wellbeing support for youth and particularly young people with lived experience of care (YPLEC) by upskilling social workers and social work professionals to address the mental health needs of this population and creating a peer network of “well-being champions” to increase access to non-judgmental peer support.
