Once bullied, Palesa kickstarts mental health project
Lo Ojwa Lo Sa Le Metsi, is the name of the mental health initiative that Miss Botswana, Palesa Molefe, is venturing into. Molefe is starting this program because her childhood experiences made her realise the importance of not suppressing emotions during difficult experiences in the hope of forgetting them. Her desire is to encourage the next generation to seek help when they are overwhelmed, adding that good mental health is pivotal to one reaching their full potential in life.
Through the training she has received, Molefe can now assist in delivering behavioural analysis services and practice under the direction and close supervision of a Registered Behaviour Technician Supervisor or a Registered Behaviour Technician Requirements Coordinator.
“My childhood made me realise the great importance of not suppressing emotions during difficult experiences hoping that I can just forget about it. But instead, it is good to deal with it and speak to a professional to help create healthy coping habits,” she says.
Her traumatic childhood experiences of being bullied have culminated into her being the change she wants to see in the community. Molefe expects the program to create a holistic environment that plays a positive role in the way that children deal with stress, how they relate to others, and the decisions they make in their daily lives.
Molefe believes that working closely with educators is key as students spend 70 percent of their time at school, hence school becomes a platform through which one can wield influence. “Teachers are the most influential people in a child’s life, and we entrust them to teach and mould our children into responsible and healthy adults, and the only way they can do that is if they themselves are educated on all aspects of mental health.” Miss Botswana advises parents and guardians of children to encourage students to express themselves. “Teach them how to be good listeners, as well as the signs to look out for in order to help the children.” Miss Botswana explains that parents should be loving towards their children and they should teach them how to express anger without necessarily being aggressive.
Molefe believes that parents and guardians play a critical role in empowering children by educating them on issues of mental health and how to take care of one’s own mental health. The reigning beauty queen hopes that different stakeholders such as leaders, parents and teachers will come together and make this initiative a success.