Greenwood Park based youth driven organisation, Teens Under the Hood South Africa (TUTHSA) is championing youth mental health and wellness with their newly launched Project Omega.
The organisation has partnered with the Durban Coastal Mental Institution (DCMHI) for Project Omega which is designed to educate and offer assistance to those who are struggling from stress, anxiety, depression, bullying and other mental strains.
Michelle Beaumont, TUTHSA founder said the aim of the project is to create a resilient generation. “We find that many of our young people struggle with some sort of the above topics and that there is definitely a need to educate and to direct them toward the appropriate resources available for support. There are community social workers, professional toll free lines among other avenues where they may get the required support and professional guidance,” said Beaumont.
She added: “Omega means the end. Working with the youth and witnessing some of their day-to-day challenges inspired us to launch a project that may assist to improve or put an end to many of the unnecessary struggles that they are facing and are unable to cope with.”
TUTHSA also has plans in the works to expand the reach of Project Omega by hoping to facilitate with DCMHI at schools and workshops by sharing factual information, share personal experiences and direct people who are in need of help to professionals.
Member of TUTHSA, Jamie Beaumont said: “Our generation faces so many pressures, from seeking acceptance, to what others say about them, to questioning their appearance and so many other challenges because of peer and social pressure, online and face to face bullying. It is important to create a safe space for the youth to share experiences and to be directed to where they may get guidance and help from.”
To kick off the first Project Omega event, TUTHSA will be hosting a picnic park day at the Japanese Gardens, on Saturday 18 March from 11am to 3pm, where some of the youth will be facilitating their first session to parents and other youngsters. The event is open to young people from 13 years and older, who will spend the day learning about mental health before socialising with games afterwards.
“It is important to have a safe space and platform to speak and to share information on mental health because some teens may feel uncomfortable about opening up about their feelings. Having a platform to discuss these things openly without judgement will give the teenagers an opportunity to speak their minds, feelings and to help each other to share coping mechanisms and most of all to support each other. This is important for teenagers to know that they are not alone,” said 15-year-old Mia Jaffar.
Fourteen year-old, Holly Joubert, added: “If we are not head strong, peer and social pressure has the potential to wreck a teens life. Daily, some teens experience noises made when we walk pass, comments made under breath, comments about our intelligence and appearance. A safe space and more education will help teen agers to understand the effects that behaviour like this may have on other teens and hopefully we will be-able to motivate each other rather than break each other down.”
