10th October every year is mark as Mental Health Day to reflect on the progress made is responding too, raise awareness, take polices or legalframe work actions, allocate adequate budget, collect updated disagreegated data on the differse mental health conditions by government, development partners, bilateral and multeral organisations and non-state actors.
In obsrvation of this year's Mental Health Day 2023 on the theme "Mental Health is a Universal Human Rights" Network AID embarked on series of actions- Media Engagement via radio stations; Production of video clip, Flyers for social media posting and Roundtable Discussion with interns and volunteers at conference room of its office secretariat.
The roundtable discussion anchored on its local theme "Hey, Let's About Our Mental Well-Being.". Powerpoint presentation on the local theme was done that form part of the discussion.
The outlines of the presentation are:-
1. Mental Health Concept
2. Key Facts
3. Mental Health Determinants
4. Promotion and Prevention
5. Summary, and
6. Discussion.
Key objectives of the discussion were:-
1. To look inwardly as organisation and individual regarding our mental wellbeing
2. To device a means to better enhance our mental wellbeing
3. To understand the importance of mental health to growth and stability
the roundtable discussion and presentation was facilitated my the Chief Country Coordinator of Network AID. Interactively, he created a platform for a constructive discussion whiles the presentation was ongoing.
However, participants shared their thoughts and experiences on how they been affected by their mental wellbeing personally and professionally, and by extension shared their reactions in response to their immediate feelings towards those act or conditions that triggered their mental state. below are some of the pointers mentioned by volunteers and interns:-
Disrespect
Rejection
Bullying
Abusive Language
Name Calling
Exclusion
Disappointment
Challenge My Authority
Lack of Money
"i felt relief today as i am able for the first time able to really identify what triggered my mental wellbeing to either react positively or negatively and how to deal with it moving forward" female volunteer. ". " i never knew that taking drugs to uplift my mental state after been disappointed was the wrong thing to do" male intern
during the discussion, a volunteer was able to vent out what has been bordern as a result of name caling by other volunteer within the office space. In ensence not knowing or have a space to talk in confidence reduces work productivity, and not making an environment safe for mental wellbeing.
From the presentation and discussion, it came out clearly that every person is affected by mental health issue however how the person manage it the biggest issue hence the need for psychosocial support. "The summit provided a participatory and informative discussion where I had a privilege to express what makes me to react negatively on issuesParticipating in this event was valuable opportunity for me to contribute meaningful by improving our mental health and how to manage/cope with trauma. It was an enriching experience to talk about our mental well being" Female intern.
Conclusively, in all of the shared experiences, reactions, which was commonly physical and isolatory by majority of the participants, the facilitator asked How can you deal or manage your mental welbeing?. It this juncture the following were mentioned
1. By accepting the state of affairs at that material moment
2. By taking a deep breath
3. By working away
it was recommended that the organisation develop a mental health policy that goes with it safeguarding policy.
