Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
In a quiet room filled with nervous laughter, thoughtful pauses and moments of courage, young people in Bulawayo recently did something powerful.
They talked openly about their pain.
The gathering, a depression and suicide prevention workshop hosted by the Abangane Platform, focused on mindfulness, emotional resilience and practical ways to manage stress at a time when mental health challenges continue to rise across the country.
What makes Abangane remarkable is not only its growing influence but its origins. The platform was founded in 2021 by a 19-year-old Lower Six learner, Zibusiso Munandi, who recognised early on that many young people were suffering in silence.
Today, Abangane has become one of the most active youth-driven mental health awareness organisations in Bulawayo.
“Young people face many unspoken struggles every day. We want to create safe spaces where they can express themselves freely without fear or judgment,” said Mr Munandi, now the platform’s founder and a health advocate.
Mental health concerns affect both young and old, but Abangane places a deliberate focus on youths, who are grappling with unemployment, substance abuse, gender-based violence, family conflict, relationship pressures and a lack of recreational spaces.
Combined with stigma and limited access to professional care, these challenges often leave young people isolated.
The workshop brought together mental health experts and youths in an interactive setting, encouraging dialogue rather than lectures. Participants shared personal experiences, questioned long-held myths around mental illness and explored healthier coping mechanisms.
“We strive to help people living with mental illness, together with their families, to live healthier lives. This is against a background of limited access to effective mental health and psychosocial services, as well as stigma and lack of awareness about the true nature of mental illness,” said Mr Munandi.
He said Abangane’s work seeks to bridge the gap between traditional, cultural and historical narratives around mental health and modern, evidence-based approaches.
“We do this through targeted community engagement sessions that allow professionals to share knowledge and help communities build their own mental health support systems by operationalising the information they receive,” said Mr Munandi.
For many participants, the workshop was their first opportunity to openly discuss anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts in a supportive environment.
Young people not only shared their struggles but also proposed solutions and called for peer support networks, open conversations in schools and greater parental involvement.
Abangane says its mission goes beyond workshops. The organisation encourages anyone facing mental health challenges to reach out, stressing that opening up is often the first step towards healing.
By fostering dialogue and awareness, the group believes many cases of self-harm and suicide can be prevented.
