BasicNeeds

BasicNeeds is a global mental health organization working to improve the lives of people living with mental illness or epilepsy. In July 2017, It was merged into the Christian disability charity CBM UK.^[1]

BasicNeeds organization has helped people recover from mental illness and sustain good mental health by community support and free treatment, most especially to those living in resource-poor environments.

Background

BasicNeeds was established in 2000 by Chris Underhill MBE. It was set up because of the factors which the WHO report highlighted, and through its programs attempts to ensure that mental health is given due attention.

BasicNeeds was a response to the lack of real mental health care in lower and middle income countries. Since its foundation, BasicNeeds has helped over 657,000 people with mental illness or epilepsy as well as their families and carers in India, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, China, Pakistan and South Sudan.^[2]

Approach

BasicNeeds' mission is to enable people living with mental illness and epilepsy and their families to live and work successfully in their communities by combining health, socio-economic, and community-oriented solutions with changes in policy, practice, and resource allocation.

BasicNeeds' innovative Model for Mental Health and Development^[3] takes a holistic approach to community-based mental health care.

Scale and impact

Country	Start	Total beneficiaries
India	2000	84,212
Sri Lanka	2001	47,047
Ghana	2002	140,357
Tanzania	2003	124,638
Uganda	2004	130,548
Kenya	2005	80,387
Laos	2007	8,152
Nepal	2010	7,142
Vietnam	2011	11,660
China	2011	2,275
Pakistan	2011	15,031
South Sudan	2013	3,077