Solidarity with Mayotte: a long-term approach to mental health

A year and a half after Cyclone Chido struck, Mayotte’s recovery is also centred on mental health. Whilst the healthcare system across the archipelago has been severely weakened, Fondation de France supports grassroots initiatives to provide long-term support for the most vulnerable groups, particularly young people.

In Mayotte, the passage of Cyclone Chido highlighted the serious difficulties facing an overburdened health system. Access to healthcare is hampered by a range of financial, logistical and administrative barriers, and the issue of mental health faces deep-rooted cultural barriers. Seeking psychological support is often still stigmatised and frequently seen as a sign of weakness. However, eighteen months after the disaster, mental health issues remain a major concern, despite significant progress.

“Reaching out”: giving a hand to the most isolated people

Against a backdrop of growing needs and a shortage of specialists, Fondation de France supports the long-term development of the sector. In partnership with the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) and the Terra Psy association, a regular coordination group has been set up. Bringing together the island’s institutional and voluntary sector organisations, this collaborative platform enables resources to be pooled and best practice to be shared. The aim is to strengthen coordination between the various stakeholders in order to provide a clear and tailored mental health care pathway for every resident.

Mobile healthcare services have also been set up: healthcare professionals reach out to vulnerable people who are unable to visit healthcare facilities due to their isolation or a lack of resources. The very day after the cyclone struck, the Terra Psy association sprang into action to offer individual counselling sessions and support groups. During this phase, for example, it supported 2,800 pupils and 439 teachers in schools. Today, the association continues its outreach work in the most remote areas, carrying out regular patrols across the island.

 The Terra Psy association organises one-to-one counselling sessions for people who are psychologically vulnerable.

This community-based approach, which is essential for reaching those who are furthest removed from healthcare, is coordinated with the work of other grassroots organisations supported by the Fondation de France, such as Santé Sud or Médecins du Monde, which operate directly within the bangas. Whilst the trauma directly linked to Cyclone Chido has subsided over the months, the disaster has served to highlight long-standing difficulties. Extreme precariousness, insecurity and violence – particularly gender-based and sexual violence – exacerbated by overcrowding caused by the destruction of habitats, are major factors contributing to psychological vulnerability that must be urgently identified, addressed and prevented.

Young people: a priority group

In Mayotte, where the population is particularly young, many children and teenagers suffer from anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress, and show signs of withdrawal. To help these young people get their lives back on track, the Centre Médico-Psychologique pour Enfants et Adolescents (CMPEA), for example, runs innovative therapeutic workshops centred on reading and theatre, alongside prevention campaigns and standard care pathways. Organised for children and their families, these spaces for sharing and creativity offer a different way of addressing mental health issues and help to restore a sense of stability for young people, who feel more at ease expressing their emotions and overcoming their anxieties in a calming environment.

The Autisme Mayotte association organises group activities in its therapeutic garden in Dembeni.

Rebuilding connections through mutual support

To help break the isolation of people experiencing mental health issues or living with a disability, associations and other local organisations have set up daytime support groups. In Dembeni, thanks to support from the Fondation de France, the Autisme Mayotte association has been able to restore its therapeutic garden, which had been destroyed by the cyclone. This place is now a true haven of peace for young people with autism spectrum disorders. By taking part in market gardening or garden maintenance activities, these young people are given a rare opportunity to get out of the house, meet new people and feel supported.

In Mamoudzou, the Vivre Ensemble Mutual Support Group (GEM) fulfils an equally vital role in providing a welcoming environment: it offers a safe space for people with mental health conditions, enabling them to share moments of camaraderie, learning and solidarity. Games, discussions and legal and social support are on offer there every day, providing a warm refuge and a solid anchor for young people who would otherwise have nowhere to go. Faced with a significant increase in requests for support following the passage of Chido, the GEM was able to replace its damaged equipment and increase its capacity thanks to the support of the Fondation de France.

The ‘Vivre Ensemble’ Mutual Support Group welcomes people with mental health conditions every day.