Meet Monica: Mother, Leader, Mental Health Advocate
Each morning in the Nyumanzi refugee settlement in northern Uganda, Monica Akot begins her day the same way many mothers do. She prepares her children for the day ahead, tidies her home, and checks in with her family. But before long, Monica sets out for another responsibility: leading therapy groups for people in her community who are struggling with depression.
“Working for me is a lifestyle,” she says. “I try to put in the time and effort.”
Monica, her seven children, and her husband fled to Uganda from the war in South Sudan more than 10 years ago, after experiencing significant loss due to the conflict. She came to Uganda with a background in child protection, psychosocial support, and gender-based violence, and today, she has taken on a community leader position. In addition to leading therapy groups, Monica also serves as the settlement’s Secretary for Environment, a role that helps coordinate sanitation and environmental efforts in the camp.
When Monica is not leading therapy groups, much of her day is spent caring for her family. With seven children at home, there are always meals to prepare, chores to complete, and small moments that require her attention.
“I prepare the children in the morning and take care of the home,” she explains. “Then I take time to prepare for the sessions.”
She carefully schedules her therapy groups so they fit within the rhythm of daily life. Sessions are held on different days and at different times so she can balance her responsibilities at home while still being present for the people who rely on her. For Monica, facilitating therapy groups is not separate from her life in the settlement. It is woven into it.
When she completed her StrongMinds training, she began speaking with neighbors about depression and encouraging those who were struggling to join therapy groups.
“If someone is willing to talk to me, I help them,” she says.
The lessons Monica teaches in her groups also shape the way she supports her own family. She encourages her children to talk openly about their challenges and reminds them that difficult moments will pass.
“I tell them this will not last forever,” she says with a smile. “If you are struggling, talk to someone about it.”
Before becoming a facilitator, Monica herself struggled with depression after fleeing the conflict in South Sudan and starting a new life in Uganda. Today, she says the skills she learned through therapy training help her recognize when she is feeling overwhelmed and reach out for support when she needs it.
“I could not be a helper when I wasn’t helped,” she says. ”When I start drifting back to that state, I know how to manage it. Now I feel great when I can help others. It has given me a sense of purpose.”
Learning about depression and helping facilitate therapy groups has changed Monica’s outlook on life and the way she supports those around her. The lessons she shares in her groups now guide how she cares for her own family and neighbors. When challenges arise, she encourages people to talk about their struggles and reminds them that hope is still possible, even in the most difficult circumstances.
“According to me, mental health is being free from the shackles of the mind,” she says. “I am grateful to StrongMinds. You might not know it, but you have saved us.”