Why Awareness and Prevention?
Mental illnesses affect 20% of adults and 14% of adolescents globally each year. But mental health is not just about having or not having a mental illness. Our wellbeing is affected by all aspects of our lives which, in turn, affects how we experience life, school or work, and time with our loved ones. Well beyond mental illnesses, our mental wellbeing impacts our social, emotional, physical, and cognitive wellbeing.
Misconceptions about mental health – especially the pervasive stigma in many of our societies – mean that people often suffer in silence and their conditions go untreated. This, in turn, can contribute to higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities, and increased risk of suicide.
Mental health awareness is crucial to both improve understanding and increase access to treatment. It is a necessary foundation for changing to a more proactive model of mental health and to preventative measures.
Many mental health problems can be prevented with the right approach. And prevention can help all of us – whether we currently have good mental health or not. We all have mental health that changes, depending on what is happening in our lives.
Prevention can take different forms and focus on three different stages: (1) stopping mental health problems before they start, (2) supporting those at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems, and (3) helping people living with mental health problems to stay well.
In response to the vital importance of awareness and prevention, mHub works with development partners and civil society organizations in Africa to provide a variety of awareness and prevention programs and services. Scroll down to learn more: Mental wellbeing & awareness days, Custom workshops & courses, Outdoor retreats, Wellness classes, School-based mental health programs.
Mental Wellbeing & Awareness Days
At mHub, we customize general or theme-based Mental Health & Awareness Days. These interactive workshops are available onsite (in Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and South Africa) or virtually. They include a range of practical and interactive activities tailored to your specific and immediate needs, such as:
- Coping with burnout
- Self-care principles and practices
- Stress release practices: Deep breathing, yoga, breath-body-mind stretching, mindfulness, meditation
- Tools to create a healthy work-life balance
- Building mental resilience
- Mental health and wellbeing awareness
- Compassion communication skills
- Team building
Custom Workshops and Courses
mHub’s mental health experts provide a range of regular and on-demand workshops and courses. If you have a special request, please contact us to discuss the topic further.
In addition to regular core competencies courses (First Aid for Mental Health, Trauma Coach, Trauma-Informed Practice) and stress management training, we have previously provided the following workshops, among others:
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Outdoor Retreats
Outdoor wellness retreats can have different purposes. A common theme is to connect with nature for the participants’ physical and mental wellbeing. Activities can include, among others, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, guided self-reflection, and restorative stretching. mHub currently offers retreats in Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and South Africa.
Wellness Classes
Studies have demonstrated that wellness classes help reduce anxiety and depression, elevate your mood, increase blood circulation to the brain, and reduce stress. As a result, wellness classes play an important role in many of mHub’s programs. They are available onsite (currently mainly in Rwanda) as well as virtually.
Here are some of our regularly offered wellness classes:
- Body scan meditation
- Breath-awareness meditation
- Breath-body-mind
- Deep breathing relaxation
- Meditation
- Mindfulness exercises
- Practicing positive thinking
- Restorative stretching
- Stress-release practices
- Yoga
School-Based Mental Health Programs
One of our priority focus areas, for the time being primarily in Rwanda, is mental health in the schools. Our goal is to develop safe environments where students, teachers, and staff have open and trauma-informed conversations about mental health and wellbeing and have the competencies to provide first aid for mental health.
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