A brief Historical Background

Liberia is the oldest independent nation in Africa which origin can be traced as far back as the early 1800s. It came into existence when free negro slaves from America decided to repatriate to the land of their ancestral birth (Africa) through the efforts of American Colonization Society (ACS) and with the help of the US government.

The ACS was a group which comprise of former slave owners and slave abolitionists that were concerned about the growing number of free slaves roaming about in New England and as slave revolts were very common in those days. The first group of free slaves arrived in Liberia in 1816. These free slaves and their descendents were called the "Americo Liberians" or mulattoes because they were fair in complexion than the indigenous tribes they meet in Liberia. Upon reaching the shores of Liberia, the free slaves formed a government and adopted a constitution similar to the United States.

For more information about Liberia, please visit the following websites.

CIA World Fact Book about Liberia

BBC Historical Timeline on Liberia

Born and raised in Liberia , West Africa , LIBHS Founder/Executive Director, Daniel Harris GAYOU is an expert in mental health, substance abuse, addiction and HIV/AIDS services who had witnessed the suffering of many individuals across Africa specifically Liberia during its prolonged civil war.

Mr. Gayou holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College , Massachusetts , a post-master certificate in drug and alcohol from Villanova University . Mr. Gayou currently is a PhD student studying health psychology at Walden University , Minneapolis , Minnesota , United States of America . The just ended civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast created a serious psychological impact on the entire nation leading to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other behavioral health problems which need to be addressed, or else the already fragile nations might again find themselves in another state of civil violence if the mindsets of the population are not adequately transformed.

The Liberian Behavioral Health Services gave birth in 2007 upon the completion of a week long training in TRAUMA RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT MODEL organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Behavioral Health through the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network of Philadelphia in partnership with Community Connections, Inc. of Washington , D.C. The founder has extensive experience in mental health, addiction, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, psychotherapy, cultural competency and youth violence prevention, etc.