Youths tackle mental health in Blantyre

Young Women Christian Association of Malawi has embarked on a project to tackle mental health issues among young women and adolescent girls in Bangwe Township in Blantyre City.

Speaking on Wednesday when the organisation established a support group in the township to create space for young women to discuss mental issues, Young Women Christian Association of Malawi project officer Gloria Makawa said they want to empower the young women on many areas, including socioeconomic issues and sexual and reproductive health rights.

“We want to equip them with information on gender-based violence and mental health issues to enable them help fellow young girls address their problems,” she said.

Makawa also said her organisation plans to empower the young women to venture in small-scale businesses to be financially independent.

Blantyre district social welfare officer Joseph Stephano commended the organisation for the initiative, saying mental health issues need attention.

He said: “Support groups are important because they help adolescent girls express their challenges to find out how best they can solve them. We will train the groups on various tools they will use when handling stress issues among young women.

“We will also link them to referral service providers that will provide further mental health services.”

One of the participants, Rebecca Mawaya, said mental health issues can lead to suicide or depression.

“The clubs will offer space for young women to present their challenges for solutions. They say a problem shared is half solved,” she said.

Young Women Christian Association of Malawi is implementing Her Voice Her Fund Project in Bangwe Township in Blantyre. The six-month project is funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action and implemented by Y+ Global across 13 countries to support adolescent girls and young women who survived gender-based violence.