We began raising awareness for World Mental Health Day on the 9th of October, 2024, with appearances on the live current affairs programs of two major radio stations in Makeni: Hope FM 93.3 AM Live and Hamza Radio 96.9 FM Awake Makeni. Representing SUCCEED were Amjata Bayoh and Andrew Sesay. In the evening, we organized a simulcast across three radio stations in Makeni to further amplify the message.
Today, on the 10th of October, 2024, we hosted an engagement with dignitaries in Makeni. The Mayor of Makeni City, Abubakar Kamara, attended the event, where he praised SUCCEED Sierra Leone for its efforts in raising awareness about mental health across the country. He encouraged SUCCEED to expand its outreach to more communities. Foday Augustine Bangura, the Registrar of the University of Makeni, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme, “It’s time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.”
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jusu Mattia from the Mental Health Psychiatric Hospital in Freetown, stressed that productivity in both workplaces and families cannot be achieved without mental well-being. The event saw participation from students of the University of Makeni, the Ernest Bai Koroma University, and St. Francis Senior Secondary School.
We are grateful to all who contributed to this important discussion and to those who continue to support the promotion of mental health.