Chronicle Editor
Judge Jarachara, Chronicle Reporter
A youth from Mpopoma suburb, Bulawayo, alarmed by mental challenges due to depression in society, has taken it upon himself to fight the scourge by holding campaigns to educate the public about its dangers.
Mr Zibusiso Mnandi (18) on Friday hosted a forum at Inyathi Youth Centre where he invited experts to talk to residents about mental health.
The audience which included pupils and the elderly flocked the venue to get their questions on mental health addressed.
In his remarks, Mr Mnandi said he was pushed to action by the pain of seeing a lot of people resorting to taking their lives, prostitution, and criminal activities among other signs of depression in the suburb.
“I have realised the rise in mental health disease and in society, there has been a limited response and attempts to deal with the issue of mental health illness. These mental health diseases have got a high risk of developing to dangerous highs as the affected cannot figure out and get themselves treated,” he said.
Mr Mnandi said mental health is a challenge which no one can say they are free from.
“The society has developed a tendency where people are being labeled as ‘bayahlanya’ even when they are depressed instead of talking to them to find out their problems. The only way to deal with the problem is through educating the society on the causes of the condition, its effects and how to address the challenges when faced with them,” said Mr Mnandi.
Mr Mnandi who is not an expert in mental health does his duties through different experts he engages to educate his audiences.
Founder and Executive Director of Africa institute for ending Bullying, Depression and Suicide Ms Zenani Masuku said the topic has been shunned by the society and hailed Mr Mnandi for coming in and help the society come to terms with the condition.
“The society really needs to be made aware of the causes, effects of mental challenges as well as management of mental challenges. There is a need for people to know that if one is depressed or stressed it can lead to mental problems. People should also know that it is upon oneself to take care of their mental wellness because once one gets affected it may be difficult to recover,” said Ms Masuku.
She added that resorting to alcohol, prostitution and drugs does not provide solutions but worsens the situation.
Pupils who attended the function said such programmes must also be introduced at schools as some students go through depression of different forms.
They said this could save a lot of students who end up taking drugs and failing to cope with their school work.
“We need to be educated by experts and not by our teachers only who are mostly negative emanating from our poor performance in class.
We are having a lot of students, especially girls who end up leaving school because of lack of proper coaching on how to deal with the problem,” said a pupil-@jdgjarachara
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