We Are a Safe
About us
For many, navigating life is a daily battle, a literal fight to balance one’s sanity and a constant battle to keep their mind balanced and restore Mental Health.
While one cannot escape the entangling thoughts and fears running through the mind each waking moment, it is advisable to guard your sanity from being imprisoned by it.
Life is for living, and so we should break the chains that hinder us from speaking about the very essence that makes us happy and healthy people – we should and must unashamedly start the conversations that concern our mental state of mind and set up tools to bring light to the darkness that threatens to swallow us whole as we vanish and perish in solitude and fear of expression. Let us be the people who encourage discussion around the topic that we have so far shied away from, to the detriment of our friends, families, loved ones and even ourselves.
It is time to restore the Life that life stresses steals away.
We are Rupasa, and we invite you for a moment to come sit and talk with us.
Who we are
Rupasa is a Zimbabwean grassroots platform dedicated to spreading awareness on mental health in the Zimbabwean community, and availing information resources that will help the public to gain access to treatment and management of mental illness. Resources include a practitioner directory, social media community with online support groups, online forum as well as events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Rupasa was set up in response to the gap left by contemporary professional mental health services (which are out of reach for many) and in response to the growing mental ill-health issues within Zimbabwe and its diaspora.
Our work has three key elements, each one designed to address the most fundamental challenges faced by those affected by mental illness:The lack of support in a crisis;Challenges with navigating the mental health system to access support;
Dealing and overcoming social isolation.
What Does Rupasa Mean?
A rupasa is a reed mat used as a place to sit during different activities and ceremonies. In the Zimbabwean context, it is rare to come across an individual who has not had an experience with a sitting mat or a variation of one.
These reed mats can be seen at funerals, weddings, parties and even tradition court hearings. It is true to say that we have all had an encounter with a rupasa also known as a Rukukwe or Bonde in some circles hence our desire to redefine it as a place where we, women-men-parents-children-grandparents-friends, can come together and talk intimately about the things that affect our mental health.
Rubatsiro (HELP)
Rupasa wants you to feel like you always have someone to turn to, offering non-judgmental, compassionate support even after hours.
Rupasa serves to provide you with information for licenced mental health practitioners who are able to diagnose and help with treatment programs for mental health conditions. Through our directory of practitioners as well as our referral on request service we are able to link you to mental health practioners to help you get better.
Dunhu (Community)
We want you to feel part of a community as we work together to address the complexities of mental-ill health, including stigma, exclusion and isolation, as well as the daily challenges of living with mental illness.
We provide platforms for peer-to-peer support, for the exchange of ideas and guidance.
We encourage new members to join our online support forum; share blogs on your experiences thoughts and opinions; offer space for sharing of music and videos; and spark conversations on our social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Chikwata: Our Team
The Rupasa Team is made up of individuals who have developed a passion for spreading awareness on mental health both from the perspective of someone recovering from a mental illness and from the outlook of medical professionals. We value helpful information dissemination that not only may save an individual from affecting mental health, but also provides linkages within families and communities that encourage open discussions on issues to do with metal health.
Furthermore, our advisory team has registered psychiatrists who advise us and also serves as professionals we refer patients to.
We are looking to grow our team with as many volunteers as possible and we hope to expand to all the corners of Zimbabwe and beyond.
Our Work Ethic
We are committed to give all our stakeholders R.E.S.T.
- Reassurance that speaking up is a sign of strength
- Expertise in service delivery through our well trained staff
- Secrecy in handling all cases that come to us to protect you and
- Trust through building relationships that transcend initial contact and develop into lasting positive relationships and networks.
Therapeutic Activities
The making of a Rupasa has been seen to have a connection with calming the senses and ultimately a way of helping people with your mental health. In the western world similar activities such as knitting are seen as ways to help with stress and anxiety. The rhythm of knitting and weaving the reeds together helps with serotonin release. This is the chemical transmitter that helps regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood. There is a strong connection between knitting and the feelings of calm and happiness in the brain. The social aspect of weaving and making Rupasa’s together can also lead to better mental health. In essence I believe the same logic applied in the impacts of knitting can be attached to the making of a Rupasa. Come join us in taking a step towards improving your mental health by participating in making your own Rupasa through lessons conducted by our in house professional Rupasa maker who will take you through the journey of collecting the materials needed to make your Rupasa all the way to you completing the last stitch.
Support Groups have been formed to create safe environments where you can share you experience with others that share similar experiences. Support groups have been formed around the following: Autism Parenting, Work related stress, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, General life complications.
Training
At Rupasa we hope to equip as many people with the knowledge of not only how to look after themselves but to also look after those around them. This is why we saw the need to create training programs around mental health. The first program is the training of helpers to help look after kids with mental health conditions. The program will help train helpers to the best of their ability to look after kids with different conditions. Because of the nature of our economy both parents have to work and this means the helpers stay with the kids and spend more time with our kids therefore providing them with education on these conditions and the fundamentals of how you can take care of these kids would help in the development of the kids. A lot of people cannot afford to take their kids to the schools that offer the necessary special care but if our helpers are trained to help us in this regard it can go a long way in your child development. A professional facilitator with vast experience in the teaching of kids with special needs has been brought in to offer the training,
Corporate Outreach Programs
The workplace can be a very stressful environment and without intervention staff members may find themselves crumbling under pressure. Rupasa has come up with informative and educative presentations and activities to help with the mental health of staff. We also help by tailor making programs that will suite different work environments and equipping staff members with creating a calender of activities to keep you engaged and looking after yourself throughout the year. We will also provide the companies with a directory of mental health practitioners that you can call on whenever there is a mental health emergency. If you wish to have these activities brought to your place of work
Community Outreach Programs.
October 15 outreach: feed the less fortunate and spread mental health awareness outreach. Last year we began an outreach program on October 15 to feed kids living on the streets as well as spread awareness on mental health and speak to them about the things that affect them mentally. We sat with them in the park and got to know them better and understand some of the challenges they face with their mental health. Relocation and a change in numbers has made it difficult for us to trace the kids we spoke to on the day but we intend to improve the outreach program each year especially through assisting the kids even after the date of the lunch. To volunteer to participate in the October 15 outreach