Survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence often experience mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress. However, mental health services remain stigmatized and limited for survivors worldwide. Many interventions are expensive and rely on the availability of specialists, who are scarce in low-resource contexts and frequently inaccessible to marginalized communities. As a result, survivors encounter significant barriers to accessing the care and support they need to fully heal and stabilize.
At Eleison, we provide survivors with accessible and culturally-sensitive mental health services in a safe and trusted community-based setting through our community mental health (CMH) program, which includes our clinical case management services. Eleison’s clinical case management contains access to counseling, case management, and psychosocial support tailored to the unique needs of each survivor. It is a collaborative process that involves identifying the mental health needs of survivors, developing a comprehensive treatment plan to address their mental health concerns, connecting them to the treatment and resources they require to heal and recover, and providing advocacy/support to help them access care.
In CCM sessions, we provide psychoeducation to clients to help them understand their own mental health and how to navigate participating in mental health services. We provide funding for counseling and psychiatric care, and connect survivors to other mental health services in the community, as well as access to medication, as needed. We advocate with other providers and help reduce barriers to survivors receiving mental health care. We walk step-by-step with survivors until they stabilize and reach their treatment goals.
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it is crucial to recognize the impact of prioritizing mental health care and the importance of seeking help. By addressing mental health needs, survivors can improve their overall quality of life and move towards healing and recovery. If you want to support our clinical case management services, contact us at info@eleisonfoundation.org or donate here.
