ADOLESCENTS TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
Low Self-esteem is among the leading cause that is draining adolescents’ confidence to address issues they are facing, dragging them down for they feel they won’t be given much attention and that feeling nothing will change if they speak up. As a result, they end up piling issues on themselves thus ending up with sorrows and distress that affect their mental health. Sudden mood swings when one hits adolescents become visible and most of the time we don’t know how to react or cope with the situation so we end up isolating ourselves or relying on advice which at times it isn’t factual. Peer pressure from home, school, and the community trying to do everything they are told by their friends corners them not to discern the issue at hand on whether it’s going to hurt or lead them to trouble (not practicing critical thinking and not making informed decisions) thus going astray, endangering their lives by engaging in drug and substance abuse, and alcoholism. This has led many of our peer friends to drop out of school and others to end up being arrested because of their criminal acts. Mostly, coming from informal settlements, the thought about the future always makes one feel that the future is doomed since there is no sign of a support system from the community to secure their education, goals, objectives, and vision for the environment is not encouraging the birthing of fruitful success stories.
As a way of breaking the norms, there is difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships with friends at school because of geographical differences since we all come from different cultures where some tend to bring their cultural biases and tribalism thus discouraging friendship co-existence. Bullying at school is another setback since the majority of them form ones, and the majority are small in body size. Those that bully them tend to humiliate and cause a negative and turmoil environment, which does not foster learning. And also they might have been or had experienced mental challenges in their previous years. This leads to the development of fear, sadness, war, and poor performance in school.
From a different angle, some adolescents tend to feel they are omniscient. They don’t take any guidance from either their parents, teachers, or senior people because the adolescents received misinformed messages which come along with bravery that is misleading. This leads to disobedience thus spoiling the behavior, image, and reputation of the students enhancing mental challenges within themselves.
Depression cases are really being witnessed in most schools in our country. As day scholars we tend to get this information through the media houses bulleting. some of the mentioned issues that led to suicides are more likely to what we go through most of the time. For instance, some students are regular absentees due to a lack of fees which affects them mentally a lot. Their expression upon receiving academic results portrays a lot of disappointments that they wish they could escape from, which is a clear indication because of their family background. Moreover, for some, school is a safe space to escape from the depression of domestic violence being experienced at home since free from their parents who at times are perpetrators.
Angaza mentorship program has enabled us to have a different approach toward life, discourage suicidal ideation, and be a pillar to those in need. This has boosted our understanding of life and being aware that mental challenges are real and sometimes push adolescents to die by suicide. We are aware of the right channel to go to when seeking support. We now make informed decisions in school and at home. We are skilled to weigh both the negative and positive consequences of our choices. As a way of supporting mental health awareness in our community, we are passing knowledge and skills to our fellow students at school and peers at home on ways to promote mental health and ensure that they comprehend mostly mental health matters, and whom to approach when I have an issue either on decision making, menstrual hygiene or how to have effective communication. Besides, it has created an empathetic feeling where we give students hope for those coming from marginalized and vulnerable families so that they won’t feel excluded but inclusivity all way. It has been an eye-opening program that has helped us to be optimistic about life. Always look on the brighter side of life so long as we continue being disciplined, obedient, zealous, and kind students at all times then the world will be different.
Story by: Star of Hope students (Angaza Mentorship program)
Compiled by: Joseph Macharia
Editor: Muthoni Kamau
As a way of breaking the norms, there is difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships with friends at school because of geographical differences since we all come from different cultures where some tend to bring their cultural biases and tribalism thus discouraging friendship co-existence. Bullying at school is another setback since the majority of them form ones, and the majority are small in body size. Those that bully them tend to humiliate and cause a negative and turmoil environment, which does not foster learning. And also they might have been or had experienced mental challenges in their previous years. This leads to the development of fear, sadness, war, and poor performance in school.
From a different angle, some adolescents tend to feel they are omniscient. They don’t take any guidance from either their parents, teachers, or senior people because the adolescents received misinformed messages which come along with bravery that is misleading. This leads to disobedience thus spoiling the behavior, image, and reputation of the students enhancing mental challenges within themselves.
Depression cases are really being witnessed in most schools in our country. As day scholars we tend to get this information through the media houses bulleting. some of the mentioned issues that led to suicides are more likely to what we go through most of the time. For instance, some students are regular absentees due to a lack of fees which affects them mentally a lot. Their expression upon receiving academic results portrays a lot of disappointments that they wish they could escape from, which is a clear indication because of their family background. Moreover, for some, school is a safe space to escape from the depression of domestic violence being experienced at home since free from their parents who at times are perpetrators.
Angaza mentorship program has enabled us to have a different approach toward life, discourage suicidal ideation, and be a pillar to those in need. This has boosted our understanding of life and being aware that mental challenges are real and sometimes push adolescents to die by suicide. We are aware of the right channel to go to when seeking support. We now make informed decisions in school and at home. We are skilled to weigh both the negative and positive consequences of our choices. As a way of supporting mental health awareness in our community, we are passing knowledge and skills to our fellow students at school and peers at home on ways to promote mental health and ensure that they comprehend mostly mental health matters, and whom to approach when I have an issue either on decision making, menstrual hygiene or how to have effective communication. Besides, it has created an empathetic feeling where we give students hope for those coming from marginalized and vulnerable families so that they won’t feel excluded but inclusivity all way. It has been an eye-opening program that has helped us to be optimistic about life. Always look on the brighter side of life so long as we continue being disciplined, obedient, zealous, and kind students at all times then the world will be different.
Story by: Star of Hope students (Angaza Mentorship program)
Compiled by: Joseph Macharia
Editor: Muthoni Kamau