Help extended to victims
he founder of the #HoldHerHand non-profit organisation, Hlonipha Mapaseka Nyaba, will conduct a mental health awareness day at the Arts Centre next Saturday.
Nyaba said the company was geared to create spaces in communities where people of all ages, including children, were given the opportunity to be educated about mental illnesses.
“It is to introduce victims to alternative ways of responding to themselves when they struggle with mental illness. The idea is to go back to the basics where we employ compassion and empathy by emphasising the importance of responding to them with kindness.”
She said the awareness
Twould teach people to respect and embrace the way those who suffered chose to express themselves. Nyaba said #HoldHerHand was conceived after she was diagnosed with a mental illness.
“I did not know what to do with myself. Even though I was going to therapy, I still had my daily struggles when I did not know how to take care of myself. I did not know how to communicate with my family and friends about my struggles and I wished they were more informed about my situation.”
She said encouraging understanding of mental illnesses from a young age, would create a more adaptable, better understanding of one’s self and of other people.
“Had something like that existed while I was growing up, it would have assisted me with my self-actualisation process. The understanding of mental illnesses is lacking in black communities, which results in rifts within families. People who struggle with mental illnesses are usually excluded from society, instead of being supported.”
Nyaba said people who suffered from mental illness needed practical support.
“You must be patient and compassionate and engage with them in a way that will create a shift in their mental process. The victims engage in negative thought patterns and self-talks which affect their environment and easily causes a lot of frustration. When you know about mental illnesses you are in a better position to be more understanding and kind towards those who suffer from the condition.”