All set for the Mental Health Training

African Institute for Ending Bullying Depression and Suicide (AFRIBS) in partnership with Jibilika Trust are set to conduct a two day Mental Health Training that is slated for the 26th and 27th of August 2019 at Batanai Gardens in Harare. The training marks the second to be held within the month of August following one which took place in Bulawayo close to a fortnight ago.

The training comes at a time when the country is faced with severe economic challenges which is among some of the factors that lead to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. After the Harare Edition of the Mental Health Facilitators’ Training, Jibilika Trust will initiate free peer to peer support groups for youths at various community centres throughout the City and also incorporate mental health awareness campaigns in the Schools Program.

According to Zenani Masuku, the Executive Director and Founder of the African Institute for Ending Bullying Depression and Suicide (AFRIBS): “We want to intensively share and practice ways on how support groups can be implemented in the country as we are well aware of the rise in cases of mental disorders in society.”

“We understand the sensitivity of mental health and the urgent need to be careful on how the issue must be handled and our intention is to change the narrative of how the subject matter has in the past been addressed,” added Masuku.

The Mental Health Training is a means of mitigating the lacking mental health services in Zimbabwe through the introduction of peer to peer support groups.

“At AFRIBS, we seek to help reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness through mental health support groups,” said Masuku. “The peer support groups are meant to help people get different coping skills from their fellow peers and aid in their healing process as well as to encourage self care.”

Mukudzei Nyamhamba, a Community Development and Social Entrepreneurship Officer at Jibilika Trust said: “We look forward to equipping social workers, counselors and other psychology-related professionals with relevant knowledge and skills on initiating and running support group sessions.”

The end goal is to see every community in Zimbabwe introducing the concept of support groups, whether it be in the deepest of rural areas or the elite urban areas. Communities should get to a point where they are free to discuss about mental health, aiding each other, supporting each other and being sensitive to the needs of those affected and those who take care of the patients.

#Fight Stigma #Mental Health