Malawi: African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Neglect (ANPPCAN) Lifeline Malawi has taken the lead on combating the mental health crisis. The organization has trained five volunteers, also called counsellors for the purpose.
The counsellors will provide psycho-social therapist services to people with mental health problems. The Non-Governmental Organisation has also given the trained professionals with five smartphones for easy communication.
ANPPCAN-Lifeline Malawi Deputy Director, Henderson Mhango recently delivered his brief remarks at the training on mental health awareness and suicide in Blantyre on Monday. He claimed that the training aims to increasing availability and accessibility of mental health services and information.
Further, the aim of the training is to help in the prevention of suicide incidents in the country.
“We are training these counsellors for them to have the required skills on how to help people with different mental health issues.
“The volunteers have also been given smartphones and sim cards. Later, we shall upload their numbers on Google and other online platforms so that people can easily access and reach out to them for assistance,” said Mhango.
ANPPCAN-Lifeline Malawi Deputy Director, hoped that the counsellors will help the people get access to the help they need. Additionally, he asked them to take good care of the phones that have been given to them.
Mental Health Nursing Officer for Blantyre District Health Office, Naomi Bowa expressed her delight in the initiative. She thanked ANPPCAN Lifeline Malawi for training the volunteers in managing mental health situations in the country.
“Mental health is one of the serious issues in the country. We have a lot of people in the communities who are facing different challenges and this eventually affects their mental health. Due to lack of counseling, some of these people end up committing suicide.
“Therefore, having these trained counselors will help minimise such cases since such people will have someone to talk to about their problems,” Bowa said.
One of the counselors, Sandrina Tchapuleni hails from Chipembele Community Development Organisation. She was thankful for the training that the organization has pledged to help as many people as possible in managing their mental health.
The organisation is currently implementing a mental health awareness and suicide prevention project in Blantyre, Chiradzulu, and Zomba districts.