Who is John and why does he need our help?
Susanna’s brother John is a currently an involuntary patient in the psychiatric ward of a state hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. His future looks very bleak if Susanna, who used up all her savings to help him once before, cannot find funds for his immediate treatment.
Your contribution will make a huge difference to both her and John. If you read on, I’ll tell you more about John’s situation and how you can be confident the money will be used as promised. I include links to local mental health charities in South Africa if you would also like to support others in a similar situation.
John is now 68. Seven years ago, a series of traumatic losses and bereavements left him isolated and not coping well. This triggered a mental breakdown, and he was sectioned and hospitalised. Susanna, who is qualified Psychiatric Social Worker, hurriedly flew to Johannesburg and spent two months securing John’s discharge, supporting his recovery, and setting him up in a bedsit. As John’s only remaining family she drew on her own savings and cashed in half her pension to cope with this emergency and its aftermath.
John’s health gradually stabilised and by last year he was once again settled in a house-share, with dogs to care for which he loved. His social circle had expanded, and was earning a small income helping a disabled friend. However, in April of this year that friend died unexpectedly, his closest friend emigrated, and his housemate moved away.
Once again, without family or close friends nearby, John’s mental state became erratic and then deteriorated until he became so delusional that he was again sectioned. Without private health insurance, he was taken to Helen Joseph Hospital where, due to the severe shortage of psychiatric beds in the state sector in South Africa, he was held in Casualty for several weeks before being admitted to the acute Psychiatric ward where he is now.
Due to John’s age, financial status, and mental condition – and being unable to advocate for himself - it is likely he will continue to be heavily medicated then transferred to an overcrowded state psychiatric hospital and eventually accommodated in a state residential institution, unless someone else can advocate for him.
There is a Way Forward
Susanna has made a wide search for sources of help and identified a small private recovery centre in Johannesburg called Papillon, offering a comprehensive residential treatment programme and willing to admit John. It was started by a survivor of the South African mental health system, who became determined to provide a better, more holistic and affordable model of care. Uniquely it combines medical treatment and psychological therapy with social, housing and lifestyle support and aftercare (www.papillonrecoverycentre.co.za).
With her experience as a social worker and therapist, Susanna feels strongly that this is exactly what her brother needs to regain control over his mental health and future.
The Papillon Recovery Centre charges approximately £5,500 for its three-month programme and this, together with £1000 for John’s initial resettlement costs, is our immediate funding goal. Susanna’s own finances are depleted as she has been covering John’s rent and expenses from her own earnings for the past seven years.
Since that first hospitalisation in 2015 John has also used up all his savings, including his superannuation from his teaching career, on living costs. His only income is a minimal means-test grant and he is now totally reliant on his sister, who remains lovingly committed to supporting him to the best of her abilities. She is desperate to give him this chance at recovery.
Any money raised beyond the estimated £5,500 for the Papillon programme itself, will be used to support John’s move into accommodation once he has recovered. Any donated funds not needed to support John’s aftercare will be passed on to two very deserving mental health charities in South Africa (www.sabda.org.za and www.safmh.org).
How this appeal is organised
I am running this appeal for my friend Susanna. I am retired from my work as a senior academic at Sheffield Hallam University, where I was responsible for managing large publicly funded projects and I have run crowdfund appeals previously as treasurer of the Sheffield Tree Action Groups. I will hold all donations and ensure that they are only used for the purposes set out in this appeal.
Trust is vital when you are asked to give money for someone you do not know. I have asked Joanna Saunders who has been a director/trustee of a number of charitable organisations, as well as being a retired Public Health Specialist with experience in the NHS, Local Government and University Sectors, to act as Supervisor for this appeal. She will check that I have kept proper records and that payments have been made only in line with the promises I have made here. If donors raise any concerns that the appeal has not been run properly, she will investigate the situation for them.
John is just one person of course, I hope you will feel able to help him and Susanna in this emergency but also it would be great if you could make a donation to either of the two mental health charities mentioned.