The NBCC Foundation’s Counseling Resource Collection is collaborating with T2S C.A.R.E.S. to distribute valuable mental health learning materials to the Republic of Liberia. 

This program depends on the generosity of the Counseling community. Please consider donating your used or new publications. The NBCC Foundation is collecting materials with a publication date of 2011 or newer on the following topics: 

• psychopharmacology 
• mental health assessment and diagnosis
• grief and loss
  
  • coping after the death of a loved one
• introduction to psychology 
• helping skills
• group counseling 
• school counseling 
• working with children and adolescents
• community-based care
• crisis response 
• trauma treatment 
• mental health in rural areas
• how to conduct research
• statistical methodology 

Counselors are invited to send new or gently used materials (published 2011 or later) to: 

Global Capacity Building Department
3 Terrace Way
Greensboro, NC 27403  

(The NBCC Foundation is not currently able to reimburse shipping costs of donated items but will cover the cost of shipping items from the NBCC Foundation offices to Liberia.)

Counselors can also bring donations to booth 608 at the American Counseling Association’s conference in Columbus, Ohio, April 9–11.

Donors will receive a letter from the NBCC Foundation acknowledging their donation.  

T2S C.A.R.E.S. is implementing a broader national mental health infrastructure pilot in Liberia, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Liberia, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the University of Liberia. The goal is  to improve mental health infrastructure and develop the mental health workforce. The Counseling Resource Collection is supporting the overall project by sending physical  donations to Liberia, which will  help to build libraries in conjunction with Liberia’s Ministry of Health. Donations will support the long-term workforce development strategy. This national pilot is structured in three phases: institutional readiness, resource placement, and consolidation through mentorship integration and learning synthesis. NBCC’s Counseling Resource Collection supports the resource placement phase of the project. 

Distribution will begin with hospitals and the University of Liberia’s library. This will support students enrolled in the first psychology degree program since Liberia’s Civil Wars in the 1990s. 

The Civil Wars resulted in generational trauma that still affects many Liberian citizens today. From 1989–1996, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) worked to overthrow President Samuel K. Doe, who controlled elections and engaged in ethnic cleansing (Eng, 2024). The creation of the NPFL led to the formation of other militias who sought power and control in the country. Many Liberians worked in forced labor camps and lost their homes, and children were recruited as soldiers. More than 200,000 people died, and the trauma remains today.

The Founder of T2S C.A.R.E.S., Dr. Spirit, NCC, LPC, says many Liberians struggle to justify the hurt they feel after the tragedy: “It is the belief that they don't have the right to feel those things because they survived. It is, ‘I made it; I am blessed to have made it.’ So there is no dealing with that at all.” 

Liberia has limited infrastructure in place to offer mental health services, so T2S C.A.R.E.S. is committed to working with organizations in Liberia and across the world to increase the country’s mental health workforce. Collecting educational mental health resources for current and prospective mental health workers is instrumental to the project goal. 

An NCC since 2015, Dr. Spirit recently connected with NBCC about contributing to this work. She observed and was inspired by NBCC’s actions to support access to mental health care and resources globally. 

“NBCC has set the bar for what it looks like, nationally, for mental health professionals to operate at the highest levels of standards, not just ethically, but also what it looks like for us to work and collaborate together across borders,” says Dr. Spirit. 

Dr. Moses Ziah II is Liberia’s Director of Mental Health. He shares that international collaborations like this will help make mental health care attainable for individuals in Liberia. 

“Building national capacity in evidence-based psychotherapy will empower our professionals and restore hope for thousands,” he says. “We welcome collaboration with global partners to co-create a future where quality mental health care is accessible, humane, and holistic for every Liberian.”

Dr. Spirit believes that Counselors have a duty to recognize mental health needs around the world. This includes general education and understanding what they can do to help. 

“When you have sometimes more than what you need, being able to share those resources is not only a privilege to be able to do in stewardship, but it’s also really an obligation,” says Dr. Spirit.

The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency, Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai, has a background in mental health and understands how critical mental health is for Liberians to heal from the country’s past.

“Mental health is a cornerstone of national resilience,” says Her Excellency. “Liberia is advancing a structured, workforce-driven approach that strengthens institutions, elevates professional standards, and embeds sustainability into our health system. Our goal is clear: to build a nationally led, professionally anchored mental health framework that serves our people today and secures our future.” 

Learn more about the Counseling Resource Collection Program.

Reference: 

Eng, J. (2024, March). Study of Internal Conflict (SOIC) – Liberian Civil War 1989–96. https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/20/2003416574/-1/-1/0/20240306_LIBERIANCIVILWAR_1989-96.PDF