NGO engages youths on suicide

Girls Activist Youth Organisation (Gayo) programme manager Gilbert M’bwana says it is important to engage youths in psychosocial counselling to prevent suicide.

He said this on Saturday in Mchinji District during a meeting with sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) champions on the importance of psychosocial counselling in preventing suicide.

M’bwana said SRHR champions are helpers in their communities, as such, there are many youths in those communities who are fighting mental challenges.

“Therefore, it is our duty as youths to help one another in the fight against depression and suicide,” he said.

M’bwana said apart from psychosocial counselling, he encouraged the youth to work with different stakeholders such as chiefs and health workers to reach many communities with SRH messages.

Chimwemwe Somanje, a senior health surveillance assistant, highlighted the importance of involving youths in psychosocial counselling, saying it will make their work easier and help youths overcome their fears.

He said: “Some of the youths find it hard to express themselves before health workers, especially on sexual and reproduction issues and sexually-transmitted infections and they end up suffering in silence.

“I believe involving the youth as champions, it will encourage others to open up and get assistance.”

Mikundi Youth Network vice-secretary Chimwemwe Josiah thanked Gayo for the training, saying it will help the youth network to reach out to many youths on the importance of communicating and expressing oneself to mitigate suicidal thoughts.

Apart from psychosocial counselling training, Gayo also encouraged the youth to use community dialogue to address pertinent issues in their communities.