Restoring Hope: Long-Term Support for Plateau IDPs
Background and Initial Assessment
This outreach is fully aligned with the HopeWorks Mission of the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation — a core pillar of our work that emphasizes meaningful community engagement, accompaniment of vulnerable populations, and collaborative efforts to restore hope, dignity, and emotional well-being in the face of adversity.
The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation conducted an initial survey visit on January 20, 2026, to IDP sites in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State. The visit was carried out by Mr. Amos Z. Selkap, our Plateau State Program Manager.
The primary aim of this exploratory assessment was to identify the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)needs of the displaced populations affected by ongoing conflicts and displacement.
The findings from the initial survey visits confirmed significant unmet needs in trauma healing, mental health education, awareness, and structured psychosocial interventions among the IDPs, compounded by severe shortages of basic amenities, food, clean water, shelter, and livelihood opportunities.
Vulnerable groups—especially children and widows—remain at heightened risk and require urgent, targeted support to address trauma, grief, loss, and daily survival needs.
Proposed Next Steps and Intention
Building on these findings, the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation intends to launch a dedicated Psychosocial Support Program for IDPs in Plateau State in the coming months, focusing initially on either Mangu or Bokkos LGAs.
The program will feature long-term engagement at the selected site(s). This sustained commitment will allow us to implement a number of carefully selected programs designed to restore hope, dignity, emotional well-being, and resilience to the displaced persons over an extended period.
Priority activities include:
Trauma-informed mental health education and awareness sessions
Structured psychosocial support (group and individual counseling, community healing circles)
Targeted interventions for children, widows, and other highly vulnerable individuals
Advocacy for integrated assistance addressing overlapping needs (psychosocial care alongside basic survival support)
Call for Public Support
The crisis facing displaced families in Plateau State extends far beyond mental health needs. Daily hardships—hunger, malnutrition, lack of clean water, inadequate shelter, lost livelihoods, ongoing fear of violence, and profound trauma—are fueling chronic stress, anxiety, despair, PTSD, depression, and grief, especially among children and widows.
Addressing basic survival needs is essential for effective psychosocial healing; without food security, safety, and dignity, mental health support cannot take hold or endure.
We humbly appeal to compassionate individuals, corporations, faith-based groups, community associations, and the public to stand with these families. Your support—through cash donations, in-kind contributions (food, clothing, hygiene kits, etc.), or other assistance—will directly ease immediate suffering and enable long-term recovery.
Official bank details are available on our website: www.copeandlive.foundation
Every contribution, no matter the size, restores hope and dignity to those who have lost so much. Thank you for your solidarity and partnership.
Together, we can help restore hope and dignity to the displaced people of Plateau State.
Amos Z. Selkap
Plateau State Program Manager
If things are getting out of hand, please call us on +234 814 831 8965 or send us an Email at: info@copeandlive.foundation for tailored guidance.