19 Apr 2018

Counselling is vital for preventing mental health illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Speaking during the art and health workshop in Gaborone, the founder of Botswana Network for Mental Health (BONMEH), Ms Charity Kennedy said young people were exposed to a lot of trauma because of lack of love or affection between parents and their children.

The traumatised children cannot freely express themselves as they do not have that close relationship with their parents, she added.

Ms Kennedy further said parents should be understanding and give their children time to express themselves freely without fear.

“This generation fear rejection and communicating face to face that is why they are unable to express their feelings,” she added.

Ms Kennedy encouraged parents to listen to their children so that they could let go of things that hurt them.

“The need for counselling cannot be overemphasized and it is important to address issues on grief, anger and fear as they help to offload the burden that one carries,” she said.

Ms Kennedy highlighted that it was important to have conversations of mental health and come up with solutions to those problems.

For his part, societal development advocate, Mr Kethabile Stevenson of Botswana Society for Human Development (BSHD) said all the projects done at Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have to inspire the less privileged so that they could better their lives.

“Equip others with skills so that they can be able to do something for themselves, thus becoming independent,” he said.

Mr Stevenson noted that NGOs have to do charitable work and they should be used as social enterprises. He commended Ms Kennedy for the good work she was doing. ENDS