Address: Mbouda, West, Cameroon
My Son’s Journey to Recovery: A Testimony to Hope and Resilience
I’m Monique, and I’m honored to share the story of my son François’s struggle with mental illness and our journey to recovery.
In 2015, François began exhibiting abnormal behaviors that left our family searching for answers. We sought help from herbalists, witch doctors, and health facilities, but saw no improvement. The situation caused tension and conflict within our family, with some members accusing others of being the cause of François’s illness.
However, everything changed in 2018 when the Healthy Brain Association organized free psychiatric consultations at the Bamendjinda Integrated Health Center. For the first time, I learned about mental illness during a health talk, and François received a free consultation that marked the beginning of his recovery.
Inspired by the positive change, I decided to host the mental health support group activities every Saturday. The Healthy Brain Association provided free consultations, psychological support, and sometimes free medications. This was my way of expressing gratitude and contributing to demystifying mental illness in our community, where it’s often shrouded in myths and misconceptions.
Today, François is doing better, and though his treatment journey hasn’t been easy, we’re grateful for the progress. His recovery has brought hope and healing to our family.
