By Lindelwa Dlamini
MBABANE – In collaboration with the Matsapha Town Council and United Against Depression (UAD) organisation is visiting local Primary schools around Matsapha engaging scholars about issues pertaining mental health issues.
It is estimated that more than 116 million people in African region suffer from mental illness and most of them are the youth. These may be a resulting from stress and many other personal problems they may find hard to share.
That is why the UAD organization is reaching out to the youth as low as primary school in order to bring them out from the pit of depression as Eswatini has been strike by suicide cases among the youth.
UAD Project Manager Fisokuhle Mdzebele said their visit to Matsapha Government Primary was part of the initiative.
“The youth must not be silent, they must speak up so that they can be assisted.
Mental health is a serious issue or should I say it is a pandemic we have ignored for a long time,” he said.
He said over the years they have been focusing on the senior youth when dealing with cases of mental health support, until recently after a recovery that the adolescent group were making headlines when it comes to suicide cases in the country.
He encouraged the youth to get mental health organizations that can assist them about depression and stress.
He said they were open to collaborations, partnerships, assistance and financial support so they can carry the mandates effectively and do the work as best as they could. As their slogan says, “Together we will, because we are stronger together.”
Health and wellness coordinator Mlungisi Dlamini from Matsapha Town Council said they decided to work hand in hand with UAD as the Council has health and wellness wing, were it deals with the employees as well as the community.
He further said that they have a group of trained peer educators who work hand in hand with the youth around Matsapha.
Through education, awareness raising, outreach and special programs, UAD is focused on reducing the stigma surrounding anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders. People interested in knowing more about UAD can visit the company’s Facebook page at United Against Depression.
