The Only Psychiatric Hospital in Sierra Leone

[@hannahalexia]

"But no one asked" Huge, huge HUGE issue in many countries in Africa. People send what they think people need and so often it's worse than useless, it's an active hindrance and creates more problems.

[@nikkiebrooklyn391]

Yes!! So true

[@567secret]

This makes me angry, it feels to me very much like it may stem from racism in privileged countries & communities, like "oh, we know better than you, so we won't bother asking".

[@RomanZolanski123]

Melias Clarkson if ignorance was a tree, racism in this case would have its fair amount of branches. Giving to poorer countries is more about the person giving. Many of us don’t donate and many of us who do are doing it for our own ego. So it doesn’t matter what it given since it’s for a selfish purpose. But hopefully we can move past that and start listening, like John encourages us to do.

[@jean-lucperez3296]

Melias Clarkson, I think you’re assuming malice here. Sierra Leonians aren’t owed anything by other countries, the aid that they get are all gifts, so why would someone who hates black people voluntarily give them gifts?

[@rodrickhudson6148]

@@567secret Personally, I know jack shit about electricity. If I heard a hospital needed generators, I might think "oh how much power do they need? I can get them one that can do that much power." I could ask them, but I don't speak their language. I can google what the usual power system in their country is, and send a generator that I assume works-and be wrong because I couldn't even get past a language barrier, and I didn't know they used a different power system. It's not necessarily racism, It can also be ignorance and difficulty with communication.

[@lorenabpv]

I like how this video touches on how sometimes people (especially people from wealthy countries, let's be real) try to help vulnerable communities without looking at the full picture and up patronizing or preaching to a choir. And like, how help needs to be contextualized to be effective. "They didn't need posters, they needed support" indeed John, indeed.

[@francescaellis8893]

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[@BlckSWANWhtRbbt]

I remember after the earthquake in Haiti people were rushing to donate to orphanages or adopt these children from them, and they were trying to tell people that the money would be better spent to help seek out next of kin or provide a place to live/ be employed so the parents could care for their own children again.

[@Mattym-gf5wc]

It is critical to make sure that you are donating something that can actually be of benefit to the recipients. We, as a society, need to do more things like this, that directly serve the folks in need and give them the resources that they deserve, rather than just contributing in whatever way is easiest and makes us feel good about ourselves.

[@JokesInBase13]

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[@qwertyTRiG]

This is also why I always donate to a charity's general fund, rather than giving earmarked contributions to a specific cause which happens to be in the news.

[@kittyocala]

The hardest part to watch is how excited the long-term patient was to have lights and a fan. Most people don’t understand how life changing it is not to have basic things like easy access to water or electricity is, I know first hand it is. It can take months or even years for someone who has gone through that to feel like a person again, longer for a person who is dealing with a mental illness.

[@TheCatsReflection-me]

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[@NateandNoahTryLife]

“Chronic mental illness is extremely hard to live with even in the best of circumstances”

[@nicolebunyatov8487]

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[@francescaellis8893]

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[@Phie_Mc]

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[@freyaan6332]

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[@cellocoversimprov5660]

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[@saskia4303]

It is so important for charities to spend the time listening to the people they want to help in order to effectively help them. The example of the too-powerful generator epitomises how assuming that we know more about the needs of individuals can make their lives worse rather than better.

[@amg1591]

this ^

[@debbiemcpherson2426]

I hope they can find a group that CAN use the powerful generator, so it at least does good

[@harsharnkaur2075]

There is a social work principle where we must know that the client is the expert in their own situation, this can also be applied to charities.

[@iflymilly]

We call this human-centred design in my field 👍 definitely important

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@andreajohnson6968]

I love the way you listen to people with such focus and respect. You're present for them, and that is wonderful and lovely.

[@francescaellis8893]

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[@hhughes9465]

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[@flyingvorka1369]

Agreed! I hope John'll see this, because this is a wonderful trait and I hope he's or will become aware of that.

[@panaele7165]

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[@rachelorr4426]

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[@louloureads3953]

My dad has been hospitalised in a secure psychiatric unit twice during my life, the second time against his will, which probably saved his life and quite possibly mine and my mum’s and my brother’s. It was so hard to know that he was being held against his will, but it helped to know that hospital was well-resourced, well-staffed, and doing its best to try and help him even though he was very ill. I’m really glad that the patients at this hospital are now able to receive better treatment and care. I am also glad for their relatives that the experience of having a loved one in a psychiatric hospital will be a little bit better now.

[@vlogbrothers]

This was so beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this perspective with us. -John

[@ednaconteh1749]

im a relative of a patient too, but i can’t do much when im separated from my family…

[@laurapierson9670]

My therapist suggested today that I work harder to find good things. This video was full of many things: hard things, sad things, but also hopeful things. Thank you for posting it and for the good work nerdfighteria supports.

[@ForcastingOnawhim]

Laura Pierson Check out the happy newspaper they're on Instagram and I'm sure have their own website. It's full of true good news stories.

[@laurapierson9670]

@@ForcastingOnawhim thank you so much!!! I will definitely check it out!

[@mimsydreams]

These are the videos that help me not give up on humanity.

[@ryanthele9346]

I hope you still are trying to find the good things!

[@wildstarsful]

indeed the good things in the world need more light and focus on them, the bad fills so much space and becomes overwhelming.

[@rainbowbutterflyfan]

As someone with a mental disability, I give you my greatest thanks, John and Hank and everyone at PIH. I might not live in Sierra Leone, but you’re doing something wonderful for the mental health/mentally disabled community. And for that, I’m very grateful.

[@ameliarolf4041]

The whole part about needing resources, not a reminder to stop chaining is such an important concept. People are so quick to shame others for doing what they have to do in really bad situations but are rarely willing to give alternatives. My brother is severely autistic and very aggressive/destructive, and it's really sad to see how many resources are being taken away or limited in the name of "protecting" individuals with special needs. Making unsafe working environments for caregivers is not conducive to good care. I'm so glad that this hospital was able to get the resources they needed to be able to care for its patients in a humane way while keeping the caregivers safe.

[@Carina5707]

There's a like button but where's the love button

[@vlogbrothers]

There's the share button! ;) -John

[@mounika.5861]

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[@joshuaf2956]

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[@osu45d]

Thanks for pointing out one of the Good things that go on whilst we we don't notice. DFTBA John.

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@auroraourania7161]

I teared up at a few points, especially when you were talking to patients. I too have chronic mental illness, and I owe my life to partial hospitalization programs that allowed me to survive my lowest points. Most of the problems I see people working with in developing countries are ones that I find very hard to relate to. This is not one of those problems.

[@chloereith6631]

A truly remarkable video about a truly enticing problem. Thank you for bringing awareness to this injustice.

[@panaele7165]

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[@VGCHANEL]

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[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@MRayner59]

Enticing? Not sure what word you were going for there, but you may want to edit that because it makes no sense whatsoever as is.

[@hoosierhiver]

I worked as a psych professional most of my life, including a couple of years in a refugee camp. This makes me happy.

[@HannahNorthDakota]

Hi! I’m a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in Sierra Leone, it is truely an amazing country and this is a really pivotal point in its timeline, thank you for the work at you are doing there. I am so grateful. I just returned home (about a week ago) and am fluent in Krio and well as fimilar with SL geography and its culture. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do you help or support your work.

[@vlogbrothers]

Welcome home! Thanks for your work, and I'll pass along your contact info. Thanks. -John

[@littlelunanova2591]

As someone who discharged from partial hospitalization yesterday, this really hit home. I'm so happy more patients like me are getting access to the care they need and deserve, and I'm even happier and more hopeful that PIH is actually listening to what the hospital needs. Thank you for sharing and continuing such great work!

[@vlogbrothers]

Glad you're home. I wish you well. -John

[@-Teague-]

Hru now?

[@littlelunanova2591]

@@-Teague- Thank you for asking! I still struggle a lot with my illnesses, but also finally have a treatment team I trust. Every day is really hard. It is hard to be hopeful after years of treatment and not getting much better. My birthday was last week and I never thought I'd live this long, but here I am. Still fighting, still surviving.

[@-Teague-]

@@littlelunanova2591 happy (late) birthday! Hope it was a good one! I'm really glad you have a better team now, but I'm sorry to hear you're still struggling a lot. It's really awesome that you've kept hope and kept going, and I'm sure you'll keep doing that! Good job :)

[@vlogbrothers]

A few notes from me! 1. Partners in Health's web site: pih.org 2. I want to underscore that if you've donated to the first half of the Project for Awesome in the last few years, then you've been part of this story. Thank you. 3. Sign up for the Nerdfighteria Sierra Leone Project mailing list! forms.gle/2Gv6CLb2XN3FSN6W9 4. Thanks for watching. I hope you're well. -John

[@fosterfoday]

i know this was uploaded over a year ago but i hope one of you somehow sees this. As a sierra leoninan american i am so greatful for your work. My father managed a refugee camp mostly comprised of sierra leonina refugees; there was no shortage of good people that wanted to help but simply no resources provided. this stems from a bigger problem with government that self proclaimed “philanthropists” often feel that they can throw money at. i just felt i needed to express my gratitude that people see us and want to respectfully help. THANK YOU!!❤️❤️❤️

[@alexcrouse]

John: I am an electrical engineer. Let me know if you guys need some help designing power systems for these facilities. I am more than happy to donate time and expertise.

[@thelebbies]

Alex I know many institutions in the country that could use your expertise. Let me know how to contact you and I can send you some information. Even if it's training folks for like 2-3 weeks.

[@alexis504]

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[@joshstein112358]

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[@ofMindandHeart]

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[@Raya-xw5ud]

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[@hannaho9471]

This is why partners in health is my favorite charity. Asking people what help they need is so important. It’s heartbreaking to see large donations (like the generators) going unused because it’s not what was needed. That money could have been put to such a better use

[@auguste7861]

I'm a teenager who is struggling to find what I want to do with my life. This video really made me think about having a career related to solving problems like these, whether through charity or otherwise. There are so many injustices in the world that we don't even know about. Thank you for this video

[@randomvideosn0where]

Just make sure you don't spend too much on education, the jobs don't pay that well in general.

[@-Teague-]

That would be an incredibly admirable and worthwhile way to spend your life and I strongly encourage it. Although as the person above me warned, you'd have to be very careful about your personal finances.

[@katereagon4299]

If I hadn’t been hospitalized I probably would be dead, and I’m not alone in that. Thank you for showing that mental health facilities are important should be supported instead of feared.

[@sophieschnake4742]

I've watched this video many times, and it strikes me as the exact opposite of volun-tourism and evangelical mission trips. You went to truly listen, engage, understand, and ask what they need from you. I strive to use my privileges like you do. You're not only doing good work for Sierra Leonians, you're setting a great example for anyone else who wants to help.

[@JasonBechtelTeaches]

Thank you so much for making this work visible and for advocating for Partners In Health. PIH is one of the most effective organizations for making material improvements in the lives of some of the most distressed people on the planet. Thank you. You are awesome. I love you and I love PIH. For anyone else interested in PIH, read the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder.

[@LogicalWaste]

Amazing video. I work at a mental health facility and this means a lot to me. Thank you John. And thank you to Partners in Health.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for your work. -John

[@ErinClements1]

I feel so incredibly lucky that my P4A donations have gone to such a worthy cause, and I'm incredibly grateful that I get to help Life's Library contribute to furthering that mission. Thank you, John, for all of the work you do to make the world a better place.

[@allisonpenner6313]

As I am bedridden (after a very minor surgery) I am so thankful to be a part of a community that supports giving people a life of independence and hope and support. These changes are hard and difficult and will take a very long time, but just so vital and worth it.

[@vlogbrothers]

I am sorry you're bedridden, but so glad you have the support you need to get through it. I wish you a quick recovery! -John

[@allisonpenner6313]

@@vlogbrothers Thank you! It's been very wonderful to have this online community (through various forums and Facebook groups) that I can hang out with no matter what!

[@jdwardour2053]

John, I cried while watching this, thank you. This is a beautiful video and reminds me why I've been watching this channel since 2007- I was 11 years old then and I am now 23. Vlogbrothers videos have taught me countless crucial life lessons, from unflinching compassion & respect of others to self-acceptance and self-respect. For a multitude of reasons this video seems to encompass all these aspects in one. Thank you for educating us & raising awareness for situations we'd otherwise be blind to and for simultaneously making these unknown topics feel personal and real. DFTBA.

[@sonofamumford4969]

I cried watching this as a public health major not from pain because I know how countries are struggling with mental health care but rather the overwhelming joy of you listening to a hospitals needs and understanding public health...thank you

[@freyab5066]

Watching this in a psych facility in Australia. I truly would not be here today without it. I am so grateful to both the nurses and doctors here in the youth ward and all around the globe. It is, as John said, hard for chronic psych patients everywhere, but being here in my private room with a comfortable bed and my own bathroom I am feeling very grateful

[@chai4768]

Thank you John, for caring so deeply about our world

[@kendallgiilck9488]

I'm from Canada but I spend most of my year working on the psych ward of the only hospital for sexual violence survivours in Democratic Republic of Congo. What you have brought to Sierra Leone is hope and the peace of kind that psychiatric patients only be discovered when they are truly cared for. Thank you thank you thank you! As they would say on the continent: we are really grateful grateful, yo!

[@VernePhilleas]

I was a psychiatric patient in St. Joseph, Michigan, USA Lakeland hospital psych ward for 38 days and have been on a stabilizing superb and robust health program involving medication, meditation, and daily runs and yoga and working out for the past 6 years and am doing SUPERB! I am grateful for my medical doctors that have helped me! I have also helped myself and healed and progressed to success in life myself with my own volition and choices and ambition!

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

“It’s not one thing or another that needs to change, it’s the whole system” This could work for Sierra Leone, this could work for America. A good philosophy to live by.

[@katiegriffitts4311]

It could also work for you know, everywhere.

[@kayperkins562]

My best friend works for the fundraising department of PIH and has been teasing this to me for months because he hasn't been able to tell me. I'm so glad I finally know about the amazing work he's helping to fund ❤️

[@vlogbrothers]

This is just the beginning, as your friend may know. Much, much more to come. -John

[@kayperkins562]

@@vlogbrothers Can't wait to annoy him endlessly with questions about it!!

[@standinthegap-divineambass8361]

Well done PIH for your support to this huge transformation.

[@OrbitalAstronaut]

Thanks for keeping it real again John. I'm glad to hear partners in health are improving the hospital.

[@FiMilton]

Seeing how happy the patients were talking about the improvements made me so happy. It makes me feel more optimistic like change really is possible.

[@madelinemcdonald2609]

Im so happy to be a part of this community. Most of us don’t know each other at all but it’s sort of beautiful that you can love and care for someone you don’t know. Thank you everyone!

[@AwakeWithTheDawn]

As an epidemiologist working in public health, THANK YOU. The approach of listening with the intent to learn, not to say "here is our pre-conceived solution" is critical in public health. Partners in Health does this so well, and it's very exciting that you and Hank will be joining them in this.

[@seifyk]

I was going to call the Green brothers a national treasure, but that's foolish. You guys are a world treasure. The world is better after having produced you. Thank you for being awesome.

[@sulakay3305]

Thanks to all of you that have a special love and interest to our country. Sierra Leone belongs to all of you, no matter where you are. We are all one no matter the distance. Most of you risk your lives and family's lives just to travel to help rebuild our country. Most of us respect your time spend just trying to know what sierra leone is and also watching this documentary. It shows your personality. Thank you again and again

[@mmasmaza123]

I wonder how much charity is wasted by bad communication. "We did such a good thing *pats back*" *everything fails*

[@danieljensen2626]

Probably a lot.

[@Argacyan]

Charity should not be a thing, no one should require to hope for someone to benignly throw a dime that person acquired who knows how.

[@emilyhendrix8723]

I worked for a non profit for many years and one of the largest wastes in third world countries are water wells. Someone comes to build it but noone maintains them so they fail into disrepair. Building wells is easy to fundraise. Maintenance, not so much..

[@sebastienvondoom8615]

@@Argacyan We need to help other people, everyone should be helping everyone else, as long as their goals are good. If everyone had your worldview, the world would be a much worse place.

[@Argacyan]

@Elesh Lee if everyone had my worldview people who need help would be guaranteed help and not chained to whatever the rich decide. You clearly have the same intentions that I have, but your mindset is not just hypothetically but factually what's keeping the world shitty right now.

[@LadiiGi]

My mom (mental health nurse) passed this video along to me and wanted me to reach out and say thanks! At first I wasn't sure but as soon as I hit play I recognized your voice. we cannot thank you enough for shedding light on this and spending time to share with your audience. We are Sierra Leonean and would love to assist in anyway possible.

[@attasi]

Hi John. As a Sierra Leonean and one of your biggest fans, I am deeply touched by the your selfless efforts in bringing help to our people. Thank you for shining a light on this issue and for working with PIH to bring necessary solutions to mental health patients at Kissy. Mental health is not something we talk about in my country. However, I am thankful that with social media and people like you using your platforms for good, I feel like we can finally start a meaningful conversation about this. I am willing and ready at anytime to take the conversation further. Thank you.

[@lukerochevot]

One of your best videos in recent memory. You made my day just a little bit better.

[@harveyts3]

PIH is a wonderful org. Please feel free to donate.

[@devanshuapte8645]

You guys are the source of inspiration for me and thousands and millions of people around the globe. We need more Green Brothers in this world.. 😊😊

[@Psych0Fee]

As the daughter of a psychiatrist this video breaks my heart, as a Venezuelan woman whose country is in the same situation this hospital was in, I'm in tears, thank you for caring and helping people.

[@LittleAnnoyngThing]

John, as always, thanks for a heartwrenching yet hopeful video.

[@AmeliaBell28]

I've always been proud to be a nerdfighter, for many reasons, but especially because of projects like this Sierra Leone/PIH endeavor. I think the generosity of our community is one of its defining characteristics and it brings me so much pride and hope when I see you and Hank find ways to make the world suck less (which is putting it mildly) by seeing people and situations in all their complex states and encouraging us to do the same to help make the world better. You guys don't just say, "look at this difficult thing! We need to make it go away because we need to! You should help us do that!" You say (in my view, at least), "here is a difficult thing. Here is important information about this difficult thing and here are the ways people have worked and are working to make this thing less difficult, challenging as it may be. We want to help those people do the best work they can. We're doing that to the best of our ability." I think it's a perfect model of leading by example and creating opportunities for us to learn how to do the same. I'm also incredibly moved by this video, particularly by the hospital staff and their dedication to doing their jobs, even when larger circumstances make their jobs difficult. I have so much admiration and appreciation for what they're doing, and it makes me even more eager to support PIH support them. Thanks for being so awesome, John (and all the other nerdfighters reading this).

[@briep638]

I would love to see another visit to this hospital and how they've grown

[@InaBlueNutshell]

I had a class on social work last year. The teacher always repeated, the first and most important thing you must do when you want to help is ask: "What do you need?" Watching this video I am reminded of that. Congrats on the amazing work!:D

[@mikepowell4772]

omg this means so much to me, I have struggled for 20 years with mental illness and I could not imagine being in inpatient in conditions like that. The people helping this facility are Humans at their best. Thank you for shining a light on this John

[@Squishytrishy]

I watched this video and thought, “Wow.” What an amazing thing this community has grown into. We’ve gone from laughing and Hank and John while demanding punishments, to helping a country improve their mental health services. What an honor it is to be part of this. What an example you two are to the rest of us.

[@karinh2094]

I have chills. I've always been proud to be a part of Nerdfighteria because of all the good work and positive energy it puts into the world, and if the community all bands together to help support this country? That could really make a huge difference in the lives of real people

[@whereisawesomeness]

"It's not one thing or another that needs to change, it's the system" YES YES YES

[@Ashleygetsbored]

As someone who also has suffered from mental illness for most of my life, I sometimes forget that there are so many millions of people in the world who live without access to medication and care. It’s difficult enough some days to function with meds, but without them I would probably be dead or chained to a bed somewhere as well. Thank you for shining a light on situations like these and creating an awareness that we can contribute to.

[@sierracook2945]

I learned about Sierra Leone while wasting time googling my name “Sierra” as a kid. I ended up learning a lot about this small country.I felt attached to from sharing a name, and it sparked a desire to help. I’m so glad to see you bringing attention to this country that not enough people seem to know exists.

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

Bless every last man and woman who has been working their butts off to help the mentally ill. There is nothing harder in life than being mentally ill, and nothing that's more comforting and relieving than having people who understand the challenges you face. It's such a relief and such a blessing to see how far mental health treatment has come in recent years. 50 years ago, "concerned" relatives would have had me lobotomized. These days,although it's still very hard, I have therapy and meds to get me through. I'm grateful and I sincerely wish everyone had at least the same level of care that i do. One day soon, I hope.

[@OMaly069]

In this world that we are currently wondering through on our daily lives, full of rage and hate, sadness and strife, videos like this are a small bit of hope. Hope that even in the poorest countries there are people and systems that are able to come together and themselves and those around them. Sometimes its the little lights like these that help me wonder toward the light and out of the darkness our world has been shrouded in. Thank you John for giving us this video, and thank you to everyone at the Kissy Psychiatric Hospital for being that beacon of hope.

[@djinnisequoia]

I have no words to describe my feelings about the incredible thing you have done. You are heroes.

[@KMGguest]

Love this!!! I'm a psychology major and this made me cry and smile. This is beautiful and heartbreaking but amazing. Thankful for access to the things we take for granted in the US.

[@kathleensargent2403]

The day before I was born a family of refugees from Sierra Leone arrived in the airport in my city. They were on the same flight as my grandmother, who was coming to see me and had been sponsored by our church. My grandfather was very involved in getting them over here and so when the two teenage boys who had arrived, needed tutoring, he and parents stepped up. That is how my family became so intertwined with this family that, for as long as I can remember, I have considered those two teenage boys, now grown men, my brothers. Now as we come up to 18 years of them being in Canada and me being alive, my head always turns when I hear or see people mentioning Sierra Leone because for me it is more than just another African country and I am so glad to follow this project and contribute to it when I am in a financial position to do so. Thank you.

[@-Teague-]

I know I'm three years late but that is such a beautiful story and I'm glad you have gotten to have them in your life.

[@noemi6836]

Mental health institutions are a rare thing to come by in the countries I have had the pleasure to visit in Africa. There is so much stigma surrounding the topic. John, I am so thankful for this representation of an institution that helps humans living with mental diseases. I am looking forward to seeing more of it.

[@dee_jay_em]

This is amazing! Thank you for drawing attention to our country and the progress we’re trying to make on Mental health care

[@belindaweber7999]

This type of change and action is the big reason why I did a degree in Health Science: Health Promotion. Too many well intended organisations roll into town with huge misconceptions about a populations needs and an air of superiority and often religious agendas/strings attached. When all that is really needed is a generous dose of humility, respect and to JUST ASK the population what they need! Thanks John for this excellent update, I feel so happy I donated to P4A in the first half, esp when I get to see tangible, appropriate results 😊

[@magicbloo]

John, as a fellow chronic mental health patient and one who has also seen the inside of a psych hospital (in a country with socialized medicine)... this video made me cry. Thank you for bringing us this story and the hope that comes with it. xo

[@CinnamonToast]

I am a senior in high school going to college next year to study global health. This work being done by partners in health & others is exactly what I hope to devote my life to, because like you, I owe so much to the wealth of healthcare we have access to in the US . This video is rekindling my motivation to contribute my part to the change that is already happening.

[@shortstuffchats]

Sierra Leone holds a special place in my heart as my parents met and got married there as aid workers. And as a counselling student I am passionate about the mental health field. This was eye opening for me to the mental health sector in Sierra Leone, I'm excited to see how your partnership there creates impact and positive change ❤

[@kaylahmarie7731]

I really appreciate the level of respect with which you treated the Sierra Leonians. Too often, people from first-world countries take a bombarding and imperialistic approach to helping other less fortunate countries. I am elated to see that you (and PIH) made an active effort to respect Sierra Leonians and keep their dignity intact. Thank you.

[@feelinginsaneisnormal2569]

This is so important to share. My uncle has lived in Copenhagen for 40 years and he’s currently living in a psychiatric hospital. He’s had his ups and downs in the system across his life, as was my nan in the Uk so I know just how good Danish mental health care is. Glad others countries are improving

[@yyflower]

The most hopeful "but not yet!" I've ever heard. Thank you

[@jeremydiamond8865]

These kind of profound reasons to believe in humanity are do welcome right now. Please do more.

[@aianyoung]

Welp. I didn't expect a vlogsbrothers video to make me cry this afternoon. I'm happy to see the work that has been done on this particular project via P4A.

[@groovypullet2337]

Thanks for supporting mental health service provision in developing countries. Physical and educational needs are pressing in many of them, and these are the focus of many aid programmes, but every human on earth lives in and through their mind as much as their physical body. Poverty, social and environmental change affect even those without serious psychiatric illness. This provision is SO important.

[@iemmasoprano321]

As someone who left a psych ward 2 months ago, thank you so much for making these things possible for everyone. Love you John!

[@abbymiller8774]

"Isolated investments yield isolated results" As a american teacher working in our broken education system, this video really hit home.Thank you for sharing this video John

[@privivenkat6005]

From the very first video about the New Yorker article “Ophelia Dahl’s National Health Service” to now, my plans for my future have remarkably changed. Thank you vlogbrothers for showing me exactly what I want to do with my future: work for Partners in Health. ❤️

[@lindsayrigby707]

Hugely moved by this video. I too, like so many, live with chronic mental illness. It's hard to believe that Kissy is the only psychiatric hospital in all of Sierra Leone. Thinking of all of the people who must be going without treatment across the country due to lack of resources is sobering. Very glad to see that this hospital's resources are increasing, and to know that our community will be providing continuing support.

[@cassandee1303]

Thank you for bringing awareness to another really complex problem. I think listening is a skill we can all improve on in order to become more compassionate and better able to serve those who need us most.

[@CitizenOfNeverland]

As someone with a masters in global mental health and a current social work student, this made me cry with familiarity and compassion and pain and joy at the change that is coming. Thank you, John, for spreading awareness for something so important in my life and the lives of so many around the world.

[@GreenTreeMediaPhoto]

This is awesome! Thank you for bringing light to this! As someone currently pursuing a masters in mental health counseling here in the states, I frequently find myself disheartened by our own system. When you talked about focused donations not helping fix the overarching issues of the system - this is equally true here. Every new paper I've had to write during my program has only opened my eyes more and more to the voids in care and the vast number of people who fall through the cracks.

[@MicahRion]

Very excited to see Nerdfighteria partnering with PIH and I joined the newsletter! One of my college profs worked with PIH for years and one of the most impactful classes I ever took in college was their Medical Anthropology course where we talked about Partners in Health's work and so much more. Another really important note about PIH is their approach to advertising/spreading the word on social media. If you look at their Instagram page, it's not photos of bedraggled folks of color with a caption like "please help now. This person needs you." There are so many organizations that do that. PIH's overall online message is, "This is what we're doing. Meet the people involved. Get excited about this and help us do more." Not poverty porn.

[@KiKinthesky]

This is so amazing. Thank you for your work, John. I worked with folks with severe developmental disabilities and even today in the states we would battle with some of the same problems. It's an ongoing battle. Keep up the good fight. DFTBA.

[@kadeecramer]

I am so proud of this and so ready and excited to be a part of it.

[@agentb42]

I couldn't have imagined continuing to watch, let alone feel apart of this channel and community when I watched my first Vlogbrothers video back in 2011. Seeing the work you're able to do as a result of this channel and this community is a real pleasure. Thank you John, Hank, and all of Nerdfighteria.

[@donaburns7912]

I have also suffered with mental health issues in my life. Thanks for this video. I love you guys!

[@exacutor9]

That psychiatrist is a hero. Imagine going through all that schooling to be the country's ONLY mental health professional and haveing to work in those conditions. Truly a selfless individual.

[@alishak6073]

The world needs people who care about it.

[@noemi6836]

Thank you for mentioning the fact that PIH is employing workers from Sierra Leone instead of foreigners. Humanitarian organizations are most commonly discriminating against local staff members. The locals do not only get payed less, often a foreigner is given a job a local would be much more qualified to do. But how can we help? I think we all must ask ourselves why volunteer at an orphanage in Ethiopia if we wouldn’t do the same in our own city? Africa is a diverse continent and it is rising through the dedication of it’s own people. And I think we all need to cherish it. Understand that Africans are the heroes of this story.

[@Megrezz]

I can't like this video enough. Thank you John and Rosianna and thank you Partners in Health. I am so proud to be a Nerdfighter.

[@destinyherbers9480]

I had the privilege of spending my summer opening a school in Makeni, Sierra Leone. This video captures the hope and the work ethic of the country so well. Can’t wait to see what you guys accomplish!

[@theodorostervall]

This is the reason I am so proud to be a nerd fighter. You, Hank and the entire community is amazing. Thank you!

[@sarahstacey5149]

I'm training to be a teacher right now and could never put a name to my disgust to band-aid solutions to serious problems discussed in my classes, but A great man just did "Isolated solutions create isolated results, while systemic solutions create systemic results"

[@AmberHolven3]

Thank you John for helping us see things from a compassionate eye. Mental illness affects all of us, both directly, and indirectly. I think all the time about children, and babies, and mothers who are getting insufficient care in the developing world, but i never really gave any thought to the people fighting very real mental illness. My community has a long history of handling and treating people with mental illness, we have two of the state of Minnesota's oldest facilities for the deaf and the blind, as well as having once had a heavily populated mental hospital. Im glad to know that you are fighting the help those who can not help themselves, because no human should live or be treated the way people used to be treated at the defunct facility here, or how those poor people were living until very recently.

[@lunacyflower6447]

This makes my heart ache and my eyes leak. I love you John. Thank you for shedding light on these things

[@Izzy-Maurer]

When that patient was thanking John, she obviously meant John as a representative of Partners in Health, but it occurred to me - we did do that. The Project for Awesome has supported Partners in Health in the past. I have no idea how much money helping that hospital took, but we as a community contributed to it. There have been so many days in the past 6 years that I've been proud to be a Nerdfighter, and hearing that there are things we have been doing and are going to continue to do that are making that big of a difference definitely makes today one of those days. Thank you, John.