Seek mental health assistance -Youths told

Covid-19 has brought with it different shadow pandemics worldwide. Mental health problems are one of the challenges that are now affecting citizens’ daily life, relationships, and physical health. Looking after mental health can preserve a person’s ability to enjoy life. Doing this involves reaching a balance between life activities, responsibilities, and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.

It is against this background that Women’s Institute for Leadership Development in partnership with Danish Red Cross Youth, My Age Zimbabwe and Red Cross Zimbabwe conducted a mental health workshop which was meant to capacitate young people with knowledge about mental health.

“Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave” said the facilitator, Onward Chironda.

To kickstart the discussion, Chironda articulated that conditions such as stress, depression, and anxiety can all affect mental health and disrupt a person’s routine.

“Having good mental health is about feeling positive about ourselves and others, being able to form good relationships, and having the resilience to overcome challenges,” said Mr. Chironda when he was emphasising on maintaining good mental health.

Participants managed to articulate that we need to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in all spaces be it workplace, churches and homes.

“No one should suffer in silence with a condition that can be treated and even prevented in some cases” said one of the participants.

They also recommended that everyone should acknowledge mental health and wellness issues at every space they are so as to make a difference in their homes, schools, and communities as well.

“Seeking mental health care should be as routine as seeking treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, or a heart condition,” said the facilitator as he was encouraging young people to seek help every time they feel like depressed.