By Mabuza Bonakele
MBABANE – Climate change is related to mental health in that it can cause uncertainty among human beings, leading them to be depressed, if the weather changes have negative consequences.
This was revealed when the Eswatini Youth Network, along with the support from the European Union (EU) hosted a thought-provoking mental health and dance exhibition, led by HLUMISA and the Youth Sustainable Development Centre yesterday (June 13, 2024) at Yini Loku (venue for artists and creatives) in Mbabane.
Nokuthula Mamba from Youth Sustainable Development Center expressing how grateful they are as an organization to collaborate with Antidote in addressing mental health.
This event, in collaboration with Antidote Culture Foundation and Eswatini Psychological Association, was aimed at shedding light on the connection between climate change, art and mental well-being. Yini Loko is a project space founded and curated by Yebo Art Gallery, Yebo Art Reach, Antidote Music and Antidote Culture Foundation.
Addressing mental health issues is crucial for the well-being of individuals, the strength of social relationships, the connection between mental and physical health, productivity and overall welfare of society.
According to Tamita Du Point from Eswatini Youth Climate Network known as Hlumisa, climate change poses significant challenges to the environment and human society, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear and helplessness in many individuals.
This has adverse effects on mental well-being, contributing to stress, depression and other mental issues. She said art can play a crucial role in addressing mental health challenges. “A lot of studies have found that access to green spaces like having a view of a tree outside your window reduce stress, anxiety hence improving focus in work places and in schools. Climate action can be used as a tool to solve barriers, social economic problems that we face,” she said.
The Ambassador of EU in Eswatini Dessislava Choumelova, head of Delegation speaking through EU Head of Development and Cooperation Eva Maria Engdaw, highlighted on the major new programme costing 27 million Euros, to be launched for five years. She said the programme would cater maxing skills, education and training, ensuring that young people were employed and generating income.
The programme, called human development social inclusion, has two components: one looking at vocational training, collaborating with institutes making sure that EU is matching with private sectors, while the other component will focus on empowering vulnerable groups attesting that they are catered with education and have skills to kick off businesses.
“Clearly, we want to really look at this component of vulnerable people, we will focus on school dropouts, the real degradation to school: supporting teachers, linking non formal and formal education, raising awareness among Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims, prevention of GBV and providing mental health support. As one of the components of the programmes, I hope that while integrating all this things we will be able to make this impact that we would like to have here” said Maria.
Additionally, the Representative of Eswatini Psychological Association, Senele Mdluli stated that accessing psychological help was crucial for the youth to cope with mental health issues. She encouraged the youth to seek psychological help as early as possible when facing mental issues. Psychological help can equip youth with essential coping skills, emotional regulation techniques and problem solving abilities to manage mental health effectively.
Hosea’s Heart Dance Group rendered beautiful dance, appreciating life, demonstrating power of soil in human well being.
Siphelele Magagula,the founder of Antidote Culture Foundation highlighting on her recent publish book which talks about mental health in Eswatini.
The founder of Antidote Culture Foundation Siphelele Magagula highlighted on her recently published booklet which talks about the lack of mental health in Eswatini. Lastly, Nokuthula Mamba from Youth Sustainable Development Centre appreciated how grateful they were to collaborate with Antidote in addressing mental health issues.
