27 May 2021

There is need to continue raising mental health awareness within the creative sector, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Mental Health Therapist at Botswana Network for Mental Health, Ms Lisa Fraser.

Ms Fraser told a media briefing intended to give an update on the involvement of Botswana Network for Mental Health in efforts to reach out to the creatives amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, that changes brought about by the pandemic had not only affected the creatives financially, but even their state of mental health.

She said in efforts to reach out to the sector, they recently collaborated with a group of artists to engage in a project dubbed: Heartstrings and Heartbeat to talk about some of the mental health challenges among the creatives, co-creatives and their communities to find ways to help them.

She said it was evident that the COVID-19 pandemic not only affected the creative sector, but also subjected artists to their inner self, as lockdowns were imposed.

Ms Fraser said some had not managed to cope with the situation, hence the need to reach out to them and raise awareness on mental health challenges, to come up with ways to assist.

She said mental health was generally ignored in most parts of Africa, including Botswana, and necessary action was only taken when the situation  worsened.

She said there were only a few mental health facilities to give necessary support, and also highlighted on issues of stigma against those affected.

For his part, assistant facilitator of the Heartstrings and Heartbeat project, Mr Leroy Nyoni said they worked with some influential artists and other role models in the communities on mental health, through their works and dialogue.

He said the Heartstrings and Heartbeat was facilitating interviews with creatives countrywide, for informed research and decision-making.

“We felt it was good to encourage artists and other role models to talk about their experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that the dialogue they engaged in would easily shape the data for those in a position to assist, to quickly pick areas that needed immediate attention. ENDS