Strength and Resilience: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support – Livelihoods Integration Pilot Project in Baidoa

For years, the women of Baidoa’s camps for internally displaced persons have been the backbone of their families, finding ways to make a living by selling food, milk, and clothing to sustain their households. These women, many of whom have faced years of drought, floods, and forced evictions, have become symbols of strength in their communities. Yet, while they’ve battled physical and economic hardships, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) support has not been easy to come by. 

In the heart of Baidoa's IDP camps, sixty-one women — mothers, wives, and small business owners — were given a space to focus on wellbeing and personal resilience through the IOM Danwadaag MHPSS pilot project. Participating in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), they banded together in the face of adversity, supporting each other through the challenges of daily life. The project offered them something they had never had before — an opportunity to focus on their own emotional well-being. 

For many, emotional struggles are seen as shameful or as a weakness. Serious mental health conditions are viewed as a curse or a punishment. But through the MHPSS sessions, they learned that stress is a natural human response to life’s challenges—and more importantly, they learned practical ways to manage it. 

Jawahir's Transformation: A Story of Resilience 

Participants in the pilot project were selected from displacement-affected communities in Baidoa. They received training and support from the Danwadaag Consortium in collaboration with Concern Worldwide Somalia. 

One of the women profoundly changed by the programme, which ran between July and September 2024, is Jawahir Ahmed, a mother of 11 and shop owner in Baidoa. Jawahir’s life, already demanding, was filled with the stresses of managing her business while raising a large family. Before the MHPSS sessions, she often felt overwhelmed by her responsibilities. 

“In the past, if one of my children fell ill while I was at the shop, I wouldn’t know what to do,” Jawahir explained. “But now, through consultations and being part of a women’s group, I’ve learned coping skills and built my own resilience. When stress or a headache hits, I stay at the shop, take a moment to calm myself—sometimes even take a quick shower to refresh—and keep going.” 

Jawahir's newfound skills for managing stress have extended beyond her own well-being. They’ve become essential to her entire family’s daily life. 

“The skills I've learned don’t just help me—they’ve helped my whole family,” she said. “If someone in my house is struggling, I encourage them to breathe, calm down, and focus on cleanliness. I often gather the whole family to talk about what I’ve learned, and we do the exercises together.” 

For Jawahir, these techniques have become lifelines in the chaos of everyday life, bringing a sense of calm and strength that she passes on to her children. This small act of sharing her learning has not only transformed her own stress response but has also fostered a more peaceful environment at home. 

For Sahra Isack Kulow, a 50-year-old mother of 13 and a milk vendor, the MHPSS sessions have brought both emotional stability and business insights. She too has learned ways to manage stress which has helped her find new ways to maintain economic stability. 

“I’ve learned skills to manage stress, like calming myself and controlling my breathing, which have helped me,” Sahra shared. “As a businesswoman, I’ve learned to seek better opportunities to maintain my economic stability. We’ve been taught practical ways to cope with stress and support struggling family members, strengthening our social support networks.” 

Where frustration once overwhelmed her when sales were slow, Sahra now approaches challenges with a sense of peace and acceptance. 

“When stressed, I talk to someone I trust, lightening my burden. For issues I can resolve, I work on them, and for those I can’t, I trust in God. Finally, I take a deep breath and find my calm,” she added. 

Ripples of Change 

What began as an individual journey for women like Jawahir and Sahra has evolved into a communal transformation. The MHPSS sessions didn’t just teach techniques; they provided a safe space for women to open up about their struggles, to support one another, and to share in their healing. The bonds formed in these sessions have strengthened the Self-Help Groups, turning them into spaces of mutual trust and understanding. 

The success of the MHPSS pilot project has sparked an interest in further activities. The participants expressed a desire for further discussions on positive parenting, conflict resolution and community-building, and some even hope to involve their husbands in future sessions. By doing so, they aim to create more supportive family networks where every member, not just the women, benefits from the knowledge and skills gained through the programme. 

Above all, the participants cherish the safe space the MHPSS sessions have provided. It has become a sanctuary where they can share, learn, and grow together, knowing that they are not alone in their struggles. As Jawahir and Sahra’s stories show, the tools these women have gained are not just for personal use — they are creating ripples of positive change throughout their families and communities. They’ve learned that mental health is just as important as physical well-being and that, by nurturing their emotional resilience, they can lift their communities alongside them. 

Supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).