Music for mental health in Mzuzu
Mental health is one area of a human being’s wellness that is often ignored as it is not easily detected with a naked eye. Rising cases of suicide in the country have been mentioned as one of the pointers that mental health needs to be addressed as many are suffering in silence.
Concerned with rising cases of mental health illnesses reported at St. John of God Mental Health Hospitaller Services in Mzuzu, an entertainment stable in the city has organised a music concert to help raise awareness.
Wings Entertainments have organised Welcome to the World Music Concert to raise awareness on mental health and give tips on how Malawians can support each other. The concert will be held at Squirrels Park in Mzuzu on November 12 2021.
According to the organisers, Welcome to the World Music Concert is an annual entertainment event designed for youths that have completed their secondary school education with the intention of entertaining them as they are being welcomed to the real world. But this time, the concert will take a slightly different approach as it will be used to promote mental health wellness.
The event, which takes place soon after the students have completed writing their Malawi School Certificate of Education Examinations, attracts youths from various secondary schools.
This year, the event will be characterised by music performances, life skills talk and mental health talk from experts, among others.
Wings Entertainment operations manager Magwegwe Nkosi said: “The event will have music performances of top youthful artists in the country including Saint, Quest, Nyeus, F-Kiz, Uhuru and over 10 others from Mzuzu.
“This year’s show is unique as we will use the same forum to bring to youths a number of life-threatening conducts and challenges such as mental health so that they should be able to handle in their life after secondary school,” Wings Entertainment operations manager Magwegwe Nkosi said.
He said with restrictions in personal interactions among communities’ due to Covid-19, mental health challenges have now been exacerbated.
A report from St John of God Hospitaller Serives in Mzuzu shows that not less than 40 patients are admitted monthly at the institution in relation to mental illnesses. On a daily basis, the hospital attends to not less than 50 mental illnesses that are out patients.
“The rising cases of mental health illness are a cause for worry that needs immediate response by educating the masses particularly these youths who are prone to drug and substance abuse which is among the main causes of mental illnesses,” said Nkosi.
In a separate interview, St John of God Hospitaler Services chief executive officer Charles Masulani Mwale applauded Wings Entertainment management for incorporating mental health awareness in the entertainment event which has potential to reduce the mental health cases.
“As the country receives another consignment of school leavers from their secondary school education, we are happy that the organiser of the Welcome to the World music show has chosen to incorporate mental health awareness.
“Civic education is critical in prevention and this can go a long way in reducing the cases rate.”
Main performer at the event Yamikani Chikwawe, popularly known as Saint, has since confirmed his availability at the show saying the theme depicts what he values, that’s refraining the youths from bad conduct.
“I am prepared for the show and I hope it will be one of the finest performances for the youth in Mzuzu. I cannot wait to be part of the team that will welcome our secondary school leavers to the world with mental health awareness messages,” he said.
Recently, a two-day festival on mental health awareness was held in Lilongwe under the Lilongwe Music and Arts Festival (Lifest). Some of the artists who graced the event with their performances included Chris Martin, Shekhinah, JoeBoy, among others.
