This story discusses a specific young person’s experiences with mental health issues and may include references to suicide, diagnosis, treatment, and support. We include this notice as we know the topic of mental health challenges may be difficult for some readers.
"Before my brother took his own life, I was a typical young person in Zimbabwe. Despite being a social worker, I had no knowledge of, or interest in, mental health."
I had always believed that professionals should speak out about mental health issues, even though I was only 21. I had no idea that I had arrived at the war too late.
My brother had been using drugs for months and had told community elders about it. Still, they could not help him as effectively as they should have because, like any other family in Zimbabwe, they did not know about substance abuse or mental health issues.
In my country, people with mental health issues are thought to be affected by demonic forces, or “mweya yerima”. People pray for you and hope for a change if you are a victim. To them, mental health issues are a curse. People often view mental health as a personal issue. Still, it’s time for people to understand how one person's mental health can impact society and the advancement of our communities.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic stabilised, the number of suicide cases has been rising daily. The issue now is that people have normalised it because it's probably the work of “evil spirits” or the person's “weakness”. Our generation, and those to follow, will inevitably be impacted, as we will be dealing with a collective of long-term mental health issues if we continue to ignore them now.
My brother's passing made me aware of how poorly our societies are educated and how neglected mental health is in Zimbabwe. His death opened my eyes to the fact that many other young people are suffering in silence like him.
When I started my WhatsApp online campaigns, I used the Shona phrase "Taura Zvinokunetsa", encouraging people to speak up about their problems. I wasn't sure that people would respond positively, but surprisingly, when our campaign started, people – particularly the youth – began to open up.
Through this journey, I’ve become aware of how capable young people are of speaking out and fighting for what they believe in. This hit home when I participated in the Youth Advocacy Guide (YAG) training in Nairobi, Kenya. I learned that stakeholder engagement is essential for young people in advocacy because sometimes we want to act but lack the resources to do so.
"Young people need to be involved meaningfully in the creative process of initiatives that affect them and their future!"
I learned that stakeholder engagement is essential for young people in advocacy because sometimes we want to act but lack the resources to do so.
After the training, I went back home and began looking for mental health advocates to train. Only six of the 32 enthusiastic young people I discovered have experience; the remainder lacked direction, a gap I am eager to fill. Currently, the YAG is assisting me in creating a network of mental health advocates who will work to change the stigma surrounding mental illness and raise awareness. Involving the government and the World Health Organization in my project will help them understand the importance of youth engagement.
The young advocates under my mentorship highlighted some of the key aspects of advocacy and mental health awareness that they are expecting to learn during the program. One pointed out the need for enhanced knowledge of mental health and how, as an advocate, they can intervene professionally and offer assistance. The youth advocates also look forward to conducting stakeholder mapping and engagement of relevant authorities in advocacy issues.
“There is this notion in most African countries that mental illness or depression are white people’s diseases, which is very wrong and has kept many in the shadows since they cannot share. I hope this program helps me grow and work towards getting rid of such behaviour in Zimbabwe,” said Vusa.
The young advocates also look forward to improving service delivery at public institutions like schools, hospitals and workplaces regarding mental health issues. In doing so, they also look forward to creating youth-friendly programs to attract and educate them. “As for me, I would really love to learn more about how we can encourage more people to participate because, as it stands, people in the urban areas are the ones who have some knowledge of mental health issues, yet those on the outskirts are socially excluded,” said Natasha Seremani, another young mental health advocate.
Young people should understand that they can alter how mental health is portrayed in Zimbabwe.
