Cyclone Freddy survivors get psycho counselling

Ministry of Youth and Sports principal youth officer Kettie Mwandira has stressed the need to offer psychosocial support to youths affected by Cyclone Freddy to help them become productive in their life.

Her sentiments come as the ministry is implementing a K20 million psychosocial support project for the youth in Nsanje.

Speaking on Wednesday in the district during the opening of a four-day psychosocial training for the youth, Mwandira said disasters such as Cyclone Freddy forced some youths to drop out of school and indulge in immoral behaviour.

She said: “Our priority in the National Youth Policy is the healthy well-being of youths because only healthy youths can participate in development.

“People think that healthy well-being is physical only, but it also concerns mental health.”

Nsanje district commissioner Dominic Mwandira commended the ministry for engaging the youth on mental health issues.

He said the disaster affected the youth psychologically; hence, the support will benefit them.

On the other hand, Nsanje district youth officer Gertrude Francisco said a survey they conducted in three youth clubs along with the gender technical working group revealed that many youths affected by the cyclone were mentally distressed.

She said: “We discovered that 18 youths harbour suicidal thoughts. We are worried because this number is from three villages only.

“So, we decided to engage the youth in mental health issues to empower them on how to make good decisions in their lives.”

Francisco said they will provide the youth with sports materials to keep them away from suicidal thoughts.

One of the participants, Alice Thomas from Gandale Youth Club, said the training will help her make good decisions and avoid committing suicide whenever she faces disasters.

The three-month initiative is funded by Unicef