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✳️ About the Project
BanStopPrevent is a three-phase mental health advocacy project tackling the abuse and neglect of people living with mental illness in rural Nigerian communities. Practices like chaining, flogging, and forced seclusion are still used because of misinformation and lack of access to care.
We are working to change that by engaging with spiritual and traditional healers, community leaders, and caregivers. We’ve completed pilot research in three communities (Apumiri, Mgbarakuma, and Nsukwe in Umuahia South, Abia State) and are now preparing to launch the Advocacy and Impact Evaluation phase.
✳️ Our Goal
We are raising £10,000 to support:
- Community-led education campaigns to reduce stigma
- Training for traditional/spiritual healers on safe alternatives
- Development of referral systems to formal healthcare
- An independent impact evaluation by July 2025
✳️ Why This Matters
Nigeria has just 300 psychiatrists for 200 million people, mostly in urban centres. In rural communities, spiritual and traditional healers are the first point of contact. Many people still use chaining due to ignorance, fear, or a lack of alternatives.
We believe change must come from within the community, not from outside. This is why BanStopPrevent works in conjunction with those who hold real influence, including healthcare professionals, families, chiefs, and youth leaders.
✳️ Who We Are
This project is led by Walk347, a mental health-focused initiative of the NAS Magna Carta Deck, a UK chapter of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), a not-for-profit with UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status since 2021.
It is funded 100% by volunteers and members. Now, we are opening it up to a broader group of supporters like you.
✳️ What We’ve Done So Far
- Engaged 312 participants across three communities (Apumiri, Mgbarakuma, and Nsukwe in Umuahia South, Abia State)
- Collected insights on mental health perceptions, treatment barriers, and attitudes to change
- Identified chaining, seclusion, and flogging as still practised but increasingly challenged by local leaders and healers
- Held 13 days of daily debriefs and community interactions, supported by trained local guides
✳️ What Your Donation Will Fund
Your contribution directly supports the complete BanStopPrevent pilot advocacy phase across three rural communities (Apumiri, Mgbarakuma, Nsukwe) in Abia State, Nigeria.
1. Community Advocacy Workshops & Healer Training - Cost: £3,000
- Design and deliver awareness sessions
- Train 15 traditional/spiritual healers (5 per community)
- Develop culturally sensitive workshop materials
2. 1-Day Mental Health Medical Mission - Cost: £3,000
- Deploy volunteer clinicians across three communities
- Cover transport, venue, medications, and setup
- Provide screening, referrals, and support materials
3. Follow-Up Perception Survey - Cost: £2,000
- Engage field researchers to revisit all three communities
- Track change in beliefs, attitudes, and openness to care
- Data collection, analysis, and reporting using KoboToolbox
4. Local Coordination & Logistics - Cost: £2,000
- Stipends for six local facilitators
- Transport, refreshments, and phone credit
- Community liaison and real-time troubleshooting
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TOTAL £10,000
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Trust and Transparency
1. The initial research across Apumiri, Mgbarakuma, and Nsukwe was fully self-funded.
2. All current donations go directly toward the planned:
- Advocacy workshops
- 1-day medical mission
- Follow-up perception survey
3. BanStopPrevent is entirely volunteer-led, and no salaries are paid.
4. Walk347 applies 100% of raised funds to fieldwork and community activities.
5. A detailed financial breakdown will be published upon completion of the project.
6. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and making a positive impact in our community.
Organizer
Magna Carta Walk347
Organizer
England