Blog written by CHIME PhD student, Sine Mpisane
I attended the Dr. Evelyn Mazike Mental Health Leadership Course, previously known as the Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Short Course, held in Zimbabwe. The course was highly diverse and multidisciplinary, bringing together participants from a wide range of fields, including academics, people with lived experiences, journalists, pastors, youth volunteers, doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists. It aimed to build capacity around mental health, not only for professionals already working in the field, but also for individuals from other disciplines who were eager to learn and contribute.
I had an incredible time learning from all the facilitators who guided us through the many dimensions of mental health. The choice of facilitators made the experience so much richer; they were true experts in their fields and brought a lot of passion to each session. We explored a wide range of topics, from defining the mental health spectrum and examining social determinants to understanding policies and legislation, conducting research, building investment cases for mental health, and addressing mental health in emergencies and crises.
My highlight was visiting the Friendship Bench, an initiative that trains grandmothers to sit with clients outdoors, under the trees, on simple wooden park benches in discreet and safe community spaces. Their vision is to place a Friendship Bench within walking distance for everyone, creating safe spaces and a sense of belonging that strengthen communities, improve mental health, and quality of life.
I left deeply encouraged to continue advocating for mental health in my own community, using the resources and knowledge I gained during the course. I will forever be grateful to Africa CDC for choosing me to be part of this incredible course
