Nathiagali:The Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with ALDO, organized a two-day residential training programme at Baragali Summer Camp, University of Peshawar, to mark World Mental Health Day and promote mental health awareness among youth.
The training, held on October 9 and 10 under the theme ‘Youth Health Champions Training: Mental Health and Inclusive Healthcare,’ brought together 40 male and female participants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs).
The initiative aimed to raise awareness about mental health issues, address the stigma associated with psychological problems and equip young people with the skills needed to provide peer support and promote inclusive healthcare in their communities.
A panel of expert trainers, including Syed Mustafa Shah, Ms. Barrera Ahmed, Syeda Munnaza Shah and Abdul Salam, conducted sessions on stress management, psychological first aid, emotional resilience, peer counselling and access to inclusive healthcare, particularly for marginalized groups.
The interactive sessions featured group activities, role-playing exercises and open discussions, enabling participants to share challenges faced by young people in the merged districts regarding mental health awareness and access to healthcare services.
Speaking on the occasion, a representative of the Directorate of Youth Affairs said that young people from the Newly Merged Districts and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were a priority for the provincial government.
The representative said mental health was as important as physical health, adding that the Youth Health Champions initiative aimed to develop young leaders who could serve as ambassadors of hope, resilience and inclusive healthcare in their respective communities.
The representative added that collaboration with ALDO was an important step towards ensuring that no young person was left behind in efforts to build a healthier Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Participants appreciated the Directorate of Youth Affairs for organizing the training and providing a supportive environment for learning, interaction and personal development.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates among participants, who pledged to promote mental health awareness and encourage access to inclusive healthcare in their respective districts.