{"id":1916,"date":"2024-10-10T20:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T20:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/?p=1916"},"modified":"2025-06-24T12:15:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:15:41","slug":"blog-irene-belanta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/blog-irene-belanta\/","title":{"rendered":"Au-del\u00e0 des pr\u00e9jug\u00e9s : Aborder la sant\u00e9 mentale derri\u00e8re les barreaux en RDC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00c0 l'occasion de la Journ\u00e9e mondiale de la sant\u00e9 mentale,<\/strong> Ir\u00e8ne Belanta Makuma a accept\u00e9 de r\u00e9pondre aux questions de Ius Stella. Forte de son exp\u00e9rience en tant que psychologue, chercheuse et d\u00e9fenseuse des populations vuln\u00e9rables, elle nous offre une analyse \u00e0 la fois lucide et empreinte de compassion sur la crise de sant\u00e9 mentale qui touche les personnes incarc\u00e9r\u00e9es et les enfants des rues en R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo. Ses propos nous invitent \u00e0 aller au-del\u00e0 des pr\u00e9jug\u00e9s \u2014 et nous rappellent que la sant\u00e9 mentale est un droit, pas un privil\u00e8ge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ius Stella: Pouvez-vous nous parler de votre travail d'accompagnement psychologique des enfants de la rue en R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo (RDC) et des principaux d\u00e9fis auxquels ces jeunes sont confront\u00e9s en termes de sant\u00e9 mentale ?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ir\u00e8ne Belanta Makuma<\/strong>: Tout d\u2019abord, il convient de noter que les enfants en situation de rue se retrouvent dans de telles conditions en raison de la pauvret\u00e9, de la guerre, ou d\u2019autres conditions socio-\u00e9conomiques d\u00e9plorables. Ils ont v\u00e9cu et continue de vivre des situations qui cr\u00e9ent un d\u00e9s\u00e9quilibre \u00e9motionnel et des perturbations comportementales.<\/p>\n

Les principaux d\u00e9fis auxquels sont confront\u00e9s ces jeunes en termes de sant\u00e9 mentale sont l\u2019exclusion sociale et la stigmatisation qui les emp\u00eachent d\u2019avancer. Leurs droits \u00e9l\u00e9mentaires, tels que l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la sant\u00e9, \u00e0 l\u2019alimentation et \u00e0 la justice, sont bafou\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

Nous intervenons en assurant une pr\u00e9sence r\u00e9guli\u00e8re, en \u00e9tablissant un lien de confiance avec eux, en les acceptant tels qu\u2019ils sont, sans jugement, en leur offrant un espace de parole et en travaillant avec eux pour les aider \u00e0 d\u00e9velopper leur r\u00e9silience. Notre objectif ultime est de les aider \u00e0 se relever et susciter en eux des r\u00e9actions positives significatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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En tant que professionnelle de la sant\u00e9 mentale en RDC, pourriez-vous nous donner un aper\u00e7u de la perception g\u00e9n\u00e9rale de la population congolaise concernant les questions de sant\u00e9 mentale, y compris la stigmatisation et les id\u00e9es re\u00e7ues qui pourraient exister ? Comment cela influence-t-il votre travail et les services que vous fournissez ?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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De mani\u00e8re g\u00e9n\u00e9rale, pour une grande partie de la population congolaise, le probl\u00e8me de la sant\u00e9 mentale demeure un sujet tabou au sein de la communaut\u00e9. Les gens ont tendance \u00e0 penser que seules les personnes atteintes de folie ou de d\u00e9mence ont besoin d\u2019\u00eatre suivies pour leur sant\u00e9 mentale. Pourtant, la sant\u00e9 mentale est une r\u00e9alit\u00e9 qui concerne tout le monde.<\/p>\n

Cette perception influence notre travail de psychologue en d\u00e9courageant les personnes \u00e0 demander de l\u2019aide aux professionnels de sant\u00e9 mentale. A la place, elles se replient sur elles-m\u00eames et refusent de parler de leurs probl\u00e8mes, envahis par la peur et la honte. Alors que justement le premier pas vers l\u2019am\u00e9lioration de la sant\u00e9 mentale est de d\u00e9construire les id\u00e9es re\u00e7ues et les fausses croyances sur le sujet, de changer notre perspective, de briser les barri\u00e8res et de demander de l\u2019aide en cas de besoin. En effet, plus t\u00f4t nous demandons de l\u2019aide, plus vite nous nous sentirons mieux.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Pourquoi est-il essentiel d'offrir un suivi psychologique aux prisonniers, qu'ils soient adultes ou mineurs, en RDC ? Quels sont les d\u00e9fis sp\u00e9cifiques auxquels sont confront\u00e9s les d\u00e9tenus en mati\u00e8re de sant\u00e9 mentale dans le contexte congolais ?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Les prisonniers, qu\u2019ils soient adultes ou mineurs, sont priv\u00e9s de leur libert\u00e9 et traversent des moments difficiles qui affectent leur sant\u00e9 mentale. Est-ce que le monde r\u00e9alise les conditions dans lesquelles ils vivent pendant leur incarc\u00e9ration ? La prison, qui devrait \u00eatre un lieu de r\u00e9\u00e9ducation, est devenue la source des nombreux abus. Les d\u00e9tenus vivent dans des conditions inhumaines, marqu\u00e9es par le harc\u00e8lement ainsi que les violences morales, physiques et sexuelles. Ils sont victimes de stigmatisation, de discrimination, d'exclusion sociale et leurs droits fondamentaux ne sont pas respect\u00e9s. Il est erron\u00e9 de penser que, du fait de leur incarc\u00e9ration, ils m\u00e9ritent un tel traitement.<\/p>\n

Ces violences cr\u00e9ent des blessures invisibles qui n\u00e9cessitent l\u2019intervention de professionnels de la sant\u00e9 mentale. Ce suivi psychologique leur offrirait un espace pour s\u2019exprimer, avec des professionnels qui les acceptent sans les juger, qui les aident \u00e0 retrouver un certain \u00e9quilibre et redonner un sens \u00e0 leur vie.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Pouvez-vous nous expliquer comment la sant\u00e9 mentale des prisonniers peut avoir un impact sur leur r\u00e9habilitation et leur r\u00e9int\u00e9gration dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 apr\u00e8s leur lib\u00e9ration ?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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L'environnement carc\u00e9ral est g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement pr\u00e9judiciable \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 mentale des d\u00e9tenus, alors que nombreux d\u2019entre eux ont d\u00e9j\u00e0 v\u00e9cu des exp\u00e9riences de vie douloureuses ou traumatisantes. Les pathologies que l\u2019on observe le plus fr\u00e9quemment sont la d\u00e9pression, l'anxi\u00e9t\u00e9, l'abus de substances et divers troubles psychiatriques. Les sympt\u00f4mes comprennent des troubles alimentaire, des troubles du sommeil, une tristesse persistante, une perte d'int\u00e9r\u00eat, des troubles du comportement (agressivit\u00e9, agitation), des id\u00e9es suicidaires, ainsi qu\u2019une perte d\u2019estime de soi.<\/p>\n

Lorsque les d\u00e9tenus b\u00e9n\u00e9ficient d\u2019un accompagnement appropri\u00e9 par des professionnels de sant\u00e9, ils sont mieux \u00e9quip\u00e9s pour faire face au stress de l\u2019incarc\u00e9ration, et aborder la vie avec une meilleure estime d\u2019eux-m\u00eames. En revanche, en l'absence de ce soutien, leur sant\u00e9 mentale continuera \u00e0 se d\u00e9grader, r\u00e9duisant davantage leur chance de se r\u00e9ins\u00e9rer dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 apr\u00e8s leur lib\u00e9ration.<\/p>\n

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Dans un pays comme la RDC, comment pouvons-nous sensibiliser davantage sur l'importance de la sant\u00e9 mentale, que ce soit pour les enfants de la rue ou pour d'autres groupes marginalis\u00e9s ? Existe-t-il des initiatives ou des efforts communautaires qui visent \u00e0 changer les perceptions et \u00e0 promouvoir une meilleure prise en charge de la sant\u00e9 mentale dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 congolaise ?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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La sensibilisation \u00e0 l'importance de la sant\u00e9 mentale en RDC peut \u00eatre renforc\u00e9e en impliquant les diff\u00e9rentes couches de la population, car la sant\u00e9 mentale est l'affaire de tous.<\/p>\n

La repr\u00e9sentation active de membres de la communaut\u00e9 \u00e0 tous les niveaux favoriserait la discussion sur la sant\u00e9 mentale, briserait les st\u00e9r\u00e9otypes et encouragerait les personnes \u00e0 rechercher de l'aide en cas de besoin. Il est \u00e9galement essentiel de disponibiliser et rendre plus accessibles les soins en sant\u00e9 mentale.<\/p>\n

Il existe quelques initiatives qui vont lentement dans ce sens, telles que la formation, le plaidoyer et les campagnes de sensibilisation, men\u00e9es en collaboration avec des leaders et relais communautaires pour changer les perceptions et promouvoir les soins en sant\u00e9 mentale en RDC.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRejoignez-nous<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Ir\u00e8ne Belanta Makuma graciously agreed to answer our questions for Ius Stella. Drawing on her experience as a psychologist, researcher, and advocate for vulnerable populations, she offers a powerful and compassionate perspective on the mental health crisis affecting prisoners and street children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her insights help us look beyond prejudice \u2014 and remind us that mental health is a right, not a privilege. Ius Stella: Can you tell us about your work providing psychological support to street children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the main mental health challenges these young people face? Ir\u00e8ne Belanta Makuma: First, it\u2019s important to understand that children living on the streets often find themselves in such conditions due to poverty, war, or other dire socio-economic circumstances. They have lived\u2014and continue to live\u2014through situations that disrupt their emotional balance and cause behavioral disturbances. The main mental health challenges these young people face include social exclusion and stigma, which prevent them from moving forward. Their basic rights\u2014such as access to healthcare, food, and justice\u2014are routinely violated. Our work focuses on being present regularly, building trust with them, accepting them as they are without judgment, offering a space for expression, and working with them to develop resilience. Our ultimate goal is to help them get back on their feet and nurture meaningful, positive change in their lives. As a mental health professional in the DRC, could you give us an overview of how mental health is generally perceived by the Congolese population, including stigma and common misconceptions? How does this affect your work and the services you provide? Generally speaking, for a large portion of the Congolese population, mental health remains a taboo topic within communities. People tend to believe that only individuals who are “crazy” or severely mentally ill need psychological help. Yet, mental health is a reality that affects everyone. This perception impacts our work as psychologists because it discourages people from seeking help from mental health professionals. Instead, they withdraw, keep their problems to themselves, and are overwhelmed by fear and shame. But the first step toward improving mental health is precisely to break down myths and misconceptions, shift our perspective, break barriers, and ask for help when needed. In fact, the sooner we seek help, the sooner we begin to feel better. Why is it essential to provide psychological support to prisoners\u2014whether adults or minors\u2014in the DRC? What specific mental health challenges do detainees face in the Congolese context? Prisoners, whether adults or minors, are deprived of their liberty and go through extremely difficult experiences that affect their mental health. Does the world even realize the conditions they live in while incarcerated? Prisons, which should serve as places for rehabilitation, have instead become sources of numerous abuses. Detainees endure inhumane conditions, marked by harassment and moral, physical, and sexual violence. They face stigma, discrimination, social exclusion, and a complete lack of respect for their fundamental rights. It is a mistake to believe that incarceration justifies such treatment. These forms of violence create invisible wounds that require intervention from mental health professionals. Psychological support provides them with a space to express themselves, to be heard by professionals who accept them without judgment, and to regain a sense of balance and purpose. Can you explain how the mental health of prisoners can affect their rehabilitation and reintegration into society after their release? The prison environment is generally harmful to detainees’ mental health\u2014especially since many of them have already endured traumatic experiences before incarceration. The most commonly observed disorders include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and various psychiatric conditions. Symptoms range from eating and sleep disorders to persistent sadness, loss of interest, behavioral issues (such as aggression or agitation), suicidal thoughts, and low self-esteem. When detainees receive appropriate support from mental health professionals, they are better equipped to manage the stress of incarceration and approach life with improved self-esteem. On the other hand, without this support, their mental health continues to deteriorate, which severely hinders their chances of successful reintegration into society after their release. In a country like the DRC, how can we raise greater awareness about the importance of mental health, whether for street children or other marginalized groups? Are there any community initiatives aimed at changing perceptions and promoting better mental health care in Congolese society? Mental health awareness in the DRC can be strengthened by involving all segments of the population, because mental health is everyone\u2019s concern. Active community participation at all levels would encourage open discussions about mental health, help break down stereotypes, and motivate people to seek help when needed. It is also essential to make mental health care more available and accessible. There are some promising initiatives slowly moving in that direction, such as trainings, advocacy efforts, and awareness campaigns carried out in collaboration with community leaders and focal points, aimed at shifting perceptions and promoting mental health care in the DRC. Join us today<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2-300x225.png",300,225,true],"large":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2.png",416,312,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blog-banners-1800-x-810-px-2-16x12.png",16,12,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Jessica","author_link":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/author\/wpusername7119\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Blog<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Ir\u00e8ne Belanta Makuma graciously agreed to answer our questions for Ius Stella. Drawing on her experience as a psychologist, researcher, and advocate for vulnerable populations, she offers a powerful and compassionate perspective on the mental health crisis affecting prisoners and street children in the Democratic Republic of\u2026","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1916"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1961,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1916\/revisions\/1961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vgy.031.myftpupload.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}