By Stella Mwalwanda

Mzuzu, November 29, Mana: Clinical Director of Saint John of God (SJOG), Michael Nyirenda on Thursday urged Nyika Media Club members to be involved in raising awareness on mental health issues.

Nyirenda was speaking in Mzuzu during Mental Health and Psychosocial First Aid Orientation which SJOG organized for the journalists.

He said media is a major stakeholder in dissemination of information on several issues let alone mental health issues.

“Media personnel need to understand what mental health is all about before taking the message to the public.

“Mental health is not a mental illness and everyone might have a mental health issue once in a while and this needs to be taken as a priority,” said Nyirenda.

One of the clinicians at SJOG, Zondiwe Banda said that stigma and discrimination are some of the issues that discourage people from disclosing their mental health issues, hence delaying in accessing assistance,” Banda.

Banda then added that the media is a powerful tool through which such messages can the taken to wider audience.

“We can deal with mental health problems through awareness, hence this training aims at mentoring journalists into information disseminators as far as mental health problems are concerned,” said Banda.

One of the participants, Ennet Chitsulo described the training as being helpful to the media as it will widen the media reporting spheres for the country’s development.