Activities recognize World Mental Health Day

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the Office of Development of the Province of Bangalore (BREADS – Bangalore Rural Education and Development Society) in India hosted several events on Oct. 10 to recognize World Mental Health Day. The focus on mental health is important in India, which has high rates of suicide.

In 2022, 171,000 people died by suicide and rates have been increasing among adolescents in recent years. The most reported risk factors were mental health problems, negative or traumatic familiar issues, academic stress, social/lifestyle factors, violence, economic distresses, and relationship factors.

As an advocate for child rights and youth well-being, BREADS has started to address these issues through its MINDS (Mental Health Initiative for Nurturing Development and Support) initiative. Spread across six districts in Karnataka, MINDS will raise awareness about the importance of mental health among children, parents, teachers and mental health professionals, working to remove the stigma to create a supportive environment. A network of counseling centers at Don Bosco institutions will offer much-needed psychological and mentoring support.

A Salesian explained, “BREADS hopes to awaken people to the need of promoting mental health in their homes and communities, to improve their quality of life, and save young people from depression and despair. On World Mental Health Day, local Don Bosco centers held various activities with the support of BREADS. These events started a conversation and brought much needed awareness to the topic.”

In the Balichakra village in the Yadgir district, 57 villagers came together to discuss mental well-being. In Chitradurga, a walkathon gathered locals to participate and watch a skit about mental health. They also enjoyed a flash mob by the local Don Bosco College students. In addition, an awareness program for women’s self-help groups was held.

A focused mental health awareness program was organized in the Raichur district to equip health workers and local community members with the knowledge and resources necessary to support mental well-being within their communities.

In Bangalore city, MINDS staff conducted a mental health awareness program in the Koramangala Primary Health Center for prenatal and post-natal women and created awareness in a local community. They also addressed the unique mental health challenges of 120 children affected and infected by HIV in the Daya Bhavan Group of Charitable Institutions.

In the Vijayanagara (Hospet) district, 100 children from nearby schools participated in a quiz competition on mental health and then went around the village in a procession to spread awareness about mental health to the community. Facilitated by the MINDS staff, 65 youth in Bidar came together to discuss and share their mental health concerns and learn about available resources that could support them. It was followed by a public program attended by hospital staff, social workers and the general public.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – India – World Mental Health Day “MINDing Mental Health”

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India