Mental health, which encompasses physical, psychological, emotional and social well-being, is an enabler of effective living in society.
Mental health well-being does not only contribute to healthier and happy life, but also productivity.
A human being cannot live or possess all abilities, including realising their potential without good mental health which enables them to contribute meaningfully towards their individual, community and national goals.
For example, if people are mentally stable, they are likely to interact well with others and live satisfactory lives.
It is against this background that a young female leader, Christine Mhone, has found a purpose in promoting mental health issues among communities to contribute towards their wellbeing and productivity.
She is an urban planner by profession, a climate and a mental health advocate and founder of Caring Hands Malawi.
Chrisitne is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where young people, especially children and adolescents, can access mental health education, support and interventions.
“I strongly believe mental well-being is the foundation for thriving individuals, families and communities. This is the driving factor behind the establishment of Caring Hands Malawi,” she said.
Basically, Caring Hands Malawi is a non-profit organisation working in urban and peri-urban communities.
It focuses on mental health awareness, early intervention and advocacy, particularly among young people.
“Our work extends into schools, communities and digital spaces. We’re now expanding to address climate-related mental health challenges such as climate anxiety. We currently operate nationally, with a growing presence in Lilongwe and plan to scale further,” said Christine.
Among other vital services, Caring Hands Malawi offers such services as school-based mental health programmes, community awareness campaigns, psycho-education workshops and one-on-one and group counseling referrals.
For online mental health solutions, Christine runs a digital mental health platform called Nyali App.
She said: “All these services are designed to fill the existing gaps in mental health education, reduce stigma and provide early interventions, especially for youths who often lack access to tailored mental health support.”
Christine founded Caring Hands Malawi in 2017, a development inspired by her personal experiences.
“I lost both my parents at a young age and grew up as an orphan. That experience showed me how much silent suffering young people go through without proper support systems and how it affects key decision making processes that shapes their future.
“Later, during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid rising suicide cases, I felt even more compelled to act. I wanted to create a space where no young person would never feel alone in their struggles,” she said.
Since she established the organisation, she has reached to over 3 000 students through school-based programmes and impacted thousands more through community outreach and digital platforms.
She said they focus on schools because early intervention makes a significant difference.
“Schools offer a structured environment where we can identify and support at-risk youth, especially orphaned and vulnerable children who are more likely to face mental health challenges.
“My goal is to help shift the narrative and normalise mental health care, especially in early life stages,” narrated Christine.
Their work at the Caring Hands Malawi is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers and partners.
They also receive mentorship and support from international programmes such as the Z Zurich Foundation’s One Young World initiative.
Locally, they work closely with community leaders, schools, institutions and well-wishers who share their passion for youth mental health and development.
Apart from championing mental health, Christine works as an urban planner, focusing on sustainable development and smart cities.
She is also a Pan-African climate justice advocate, having represented Malawi, Africa and the Global South at COP28, COP29 and the Inaugural Global South NGO Forum.
Currently, she is developing a vlog and writing documents that capture her journey as an urban planner and climate advocate to inspire young women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields.
Christine has a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
She also has various certificates in climate justice, entrepreneurship and mental health.
She went to Walani Private Primary School and Phwezi Girls Secondary School.
Later, Christine studied urban and regional planning at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Science.
Recently, Caring Hands Malawi has rebranded their digital mental health platform, Nyali App, which means light in Chichewa.
The Nyali App offers a safe space for youth to access mental health tools, sexual and reproductive health information, and support for emerging issues like climate anxiety.
Christine said: “We are also working to integrate mental health into national climate adaptation strategies, recognising the deep interconnection between the environment and emotional well-being. Our belief is simple: healing minds is part of healing nations.”
