YONECO participated in three-day training sessions of 45 Adolescent Mental Health Coaches in Chikwawa district.
The intervention is aimed at addressing mental health challenges which affect young people, particularly as a result of trauma caused by natural disasters.
The training sessions were concurrently conducted from 14 to 16 August, 2024 in the areas of Traditional Authority (T/A) Lundu and Ngabu in the district. The participants were drawn from 12 youth clubs that are within the targeted areas.
All the two training sessions were facilitated by mental health nurses from Chikwawa District Health Office, officials from the district’s social welfare office and social workers from YONECO.
The adolescent mental health coaches were drilled in various mental health areas including Psychological First Aid (PFA), Psychosocial Support (PSS), life skills, and interpersonal communication skills.
One of the training participants, Agnes Nsona, described the training as a critical component in addressing the accelerating impact of climate change that has led to increased intensity and frequency of natural disasters.
Agnes highlighted that the trained cadres are now empowered with knowledge and skills to identify mental health issues and provide the necessary support to prevent suicides among the youth especially those who are affected by floods.
“This training will greatly contribute to improved well-being of young people in the targeted areas,” explained Agnes.
In closing, a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports urged the trained coaches to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired to support and serve their peers in their designated areas.
The trained coaches are expected to raise awareness about mental health issues through their designated youth clubs and various community events including football matches.
Chikwawa is among the districts in Malawi that are highly susceptible to cyclone-induced floods.
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