FROM VICTIM TO ADVOCATE

Tanaka Mahanya

CHAMUNORWA Ndoro (26) from Budiriro has dedicated himself to addressing mental health issues through poetry and art.

He recently published his second anthology, ‘Sanitising The Mind: Fragments Of My Scattered Thoughts’, which deals with his own struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder when his friend passed away in 2017.

Through his poetry, Chamunorwa seeks to encourage other young people facing similar struggles to seek help.

He has performed on different word stages and engages with young people on how they can use art as a tool to overcome mental health struggles. Chamunorwa says there is a lack of understanding about mental health in low-income areas.

However, he said, his art has enabled some young people to gain an understanding of mental health and even attend support groups.

“After my own experience with mental health in the form of PTSD and substance use, I have used poetry to convey a message of hope to other people who may be faced with similar struggles.

“I am mainly targeting youths since it is the demographic group I fall into and I also aim to communicate with families, as they are very important in creating a support system for the person who needs help.

“I have performed on different stages and also got to engage with young people on how they can use art as a tool in overcoming mental health struggles.

“Few youths have been able to gain an understanding of mental health through my art.

“Some have also gone as far as attending support groups,” he said.