THE MIND MAPPING: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS FESTIVAL

‘What is The Mind Mapping: Mental Health Awareness Festival?’

The Mind Mapping: Mental Health Awareness Festival is an event brought to you by The Golden Vineyard in Partnership with the Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network (as the event beneficiaries), to highlight the importance of intentionally taking care of yourself, with a specific emphasis on mental health.

The Festival shall be held at Ba Isago, Gaborone on the 13th April, 2024 from 11h00 -16h00.

The event will create awareness on mental health. Mental health is so complex and diverse, and it’s not something that can be tackled in one day, as many of us (knowingly or unknowingly) suffer or live with a form of compromised mental health. Thus, the Mind Mapping - Mental Health Fest was born. The Mind Mapping Fest is a safe space to hold conversations around mental health, to demystify the different conditions that affect many, and highlight the different resources available to assist. The event seeks not only to highlight the different facets of mental health, but to promote conversation on identifying and understanding triggers and encouraging us all to seek help and support.

Poor mental health is a challenge that has continued to affect our community. Studies highlight that although mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide, mental health care is often given low priority, especially in countries like Botswana (low-middle income countries). It is now more than ever that we need to come together to heal, support and ensure that no one feels alone in their situations, thus encourage our society to be aware, get help and support one another.

This is a community empowerment event that focuses on encouraging individuals to not underestimate the power of clearly outlining one’s limitations and expectations of themselves and others. Effective mind mapping promotes better decision making, mental stability and decreases the negative impacts of unexpected life occurrences.

Who are the organisers of this event?

The organiser of the event is The Golden Vineyard, a social enterprise that aims to promote and empower its community through facilitating physio-socio empowerment workshops, networking forums and community upliftment programmes. Quoting a famous African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together,” we believe that it is our duty to facilitate mass sensitisation and empowerment outreach events, so we can promote and build together strong community foundations. Our mandate is to align corporate strategy with social needs and highlight community empowerment programmes.

Who are the beneficiaries of this event?

The beneficiaries of this event are the Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network as they tirelessly advocate for good mental health practices and provide general public education on substance use and addiction through tackling Sustainable Development Goal 3, which speaks to promoting good health and well-being. BOSASNET offers numerous services such as:

• Counselling and support systems for

individuals in need

• Educational programmes to spread

awareness on social issues

• Advocacy efforts to ensure mental

health remains a priority local and national agenda and,

• Trainings on physiology and

pharmacology for addiction professionals and treatment for substance use disorder.

We would like to use this festival to not only raise funds for the BOSASNET programmes but also to create a safe space to encourage people to take better care of themselves mentally ( identifying/ prevention/ treatment/ support).

Who is speaking at the event and what activities will take place?

The event speakers are various accredited trainers, counsellors, medical doctors and thought leaders that have been engaged to promote overall wellness within the event, with the hope that what is learnt on the day shall be taken further on into our communities to enhance BOTHO and support systems.

The speakers at the event are: Dr. Kagiso Bojosi, Dr Rainer Mosimanegape, Kutlwano Kepaletswe,

VS Cufflins, Monkgogi Moshaga and

Dinaledi Kadikwe. Furthermore, there will be amazing entertainment provided by FME DJS: Ndibo, Xortic and Mike Seepaditlhare, with photography by

FOCUS Photography.

Food and drink stalls will be selling various products during the day, and there will be several mental health and wellness booths/stalls for attendees to visit throughout the day.

Who should attend and why?

Everyone is encouraged to attend this event as mental health issues impact all of us (stress, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviours, and other disorders). We have all experienced mental health issues or may know someone who needs our support. It is now more than ever that we need to come together to heal, support and ensure that no one feels alone in their respective situations.

Together, we can make a difference. Join us in standing with BOSASNET as we work towards a world where mental health is treated with the seriousness it deserves.

For more information and to purchase tickets contact us on: (+267) 72768820/ 72166155/ 74413201 or csr.goldenvineyar@ gmail.com. Tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the event. We invite all individuals and corporates to attend and support this community upiftment event. Come, Let’s Build together.