Friends Of Diversity Celebrates World Mental Health Day 2024
published on Oct 10, 2024
FOD had an opportunity to commemorate world Mental Health Day with the rest of the world on the 10th of October 2024. Prior to the world mental health day, there were series of outreach activities conducted the days before including the Gaborone pride held on the 5th of October 2024 in Gaborone. Other community outreaches were held couple of days in Jwaneng and Lobatse towns leading to the actual commemoration on the 10th of October 2024. The commemoration of the mental health day was done to raise awareness of mental health struggles that LGBTIQ people experience in Botswana to the general community and how the society can build supportive and tolerant environments for LGBTIQ people. In addition, the commemoration was also intended to prepare LGBTIQ persons to be resilient and be able to handle difficult situations in relation to mental health.
Outcomes of World Mental health Day
Moreover, the event was structured to build confidence, assertiveness training, boosting self-care techniques such that can survive any challenge they face. The personal experiences shared during mental health day were painful, including abuse, rage, rejection, substance consumption and violence. The LGBTIQ people who were reached with outreach activities shared their stories of struggle, journey of strength and self-love, a story of collective resistance and care. In the words of some people who were reached with Open Hands project included: “It’s ok not to feel ok. “Struggling with your mental health is not your fault.” “You do not have to walk alone through it". “We understand that there are hardships but there is always a place of refuge in our community.”