Leroy attends Youth Connekt African Summit 2022

The Youth Connekt Summit of Rwanda was held in Kigali. Large representations of youthful delegates from across the African continent and small island states (Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigue). The event was held from 12 the to 15th October 22.

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The Topic I featured in for the summit was Young People's health. Mental was a very significant topic of discussion at the summit. 
A highlighting example was the country of Kenya, establishing a hustler's fund so that young people going through similar phases could be assisted. 
 
 
There are many neurodiverse causes of mental health and of course social factors can play a role. 
 
Many held the voice for the betterment of mental health including a teenage girl faced with Autism. She decided to become a youth activist. Hence, we encourage set up of associations for Mental Health like Cancer Association.
 
A medical professional stated that MHS must approach a holistic treatment of medicine. Nutritional psychiatry must be introduced, where hence food is the medicine for mental disorders. New diversities of treatment can be encouraged for Seychelles MHS, MOF and MOE.
 
Socio-economic regression can be discussed as prices from private sector professionals are quite significant. A limiting factor was placed on Public MHS as they cannot handle all cases and sometimes the poor are less privileged.  
 
The question in a master class was how the people of Rwanda can be healed from genocide effects mentally. In any country with conflict, reconciliation is key. Forgiveness or pardon can help heaps to reduce tension. By releasing anger and resentment from heart, you leaving room for better emotions like love, joy to fill in. Hence better emotional mental health.
 
The country may require a student union, for young students to seek advice for people who will stand up for them. Counselling sessions may be available for them also. Age factor or category can be further discussed for what is relevant.
 
Introduction of school counsellors is a great helping factor, but from the direct sources of MHS professionals, the classroom dealing with the classrooms. Supportive teachers must be restored in the classrooms so that less pressure is demanded on MHS, hence better efficiency on worthy cases.  Introductory modules of psychology into the education diploma or BSC will be most useful to help facilitate psychology or teacher -student support.
 
A wise young man stated, the youth must be the help they want to see. We must not depend on infant milk but walk the talk. Added further comments, be wise on the talk we walk! Perfect examples are young people joining the African Continental Youth organizations, consequently young people setting up associations and businesses to help the young.  These could relate to helping teen mothers, unemployed and the under looked/overlooked. By helping our brothers and sisters, we will reduce their mental stress and anxieties. 
 
If we want to see young people ameliorate or evolve in society, we must be on the decision-making table of the country. It has been noted that the elderly cannot deal with our problems, the way we can. It was stated by a Deputy President of Kenya, that 30% of parliament are young people and he is DP. Higher note, that the President won the election due to the young activist. The young people must join the decision-making table to help the young people, which will improve the mental health of young people. 
 
Furthermore, it can be noted that we need larger amounts of mental and sexual health advocacy. We need to do more to support the mentally ill. 
 
Many presidents and governmental leaders at the youth summit expressed that it is high time for the youth to act. There are certain and specific modules of life in which we are more experienced to deal with. We need to convince and encourage youthful investment from government and other stakeholders through a positive force of light. The light movement of young people. 
 
Main causes of mental health are stress. If we can deal with stress factors, we can reduce mental and sexual outburst of poor health. Better economic conditions, investment in the young will decline in such at times alarming figures, e.g., Teen pregnancies. 
 
Comment: The feedback from the UN Youth Survey proves to be efficient as they are correlated to ideas/solutions, hence presented.
 
The stigma on mental health is breaking, direct to the figures of the young leaders of UN Youth stating mental health matters or is important! This is in the ratio where mental health professionals have stated that the stigma is breaking.


Hence, we need to be more resilient. We must stand as youth warriors bringing light into our society. Be the help, we want to see! Rather to receive aid, let us create youth empowerment.
 
Stress, social factors, economic factors are the many factors which can contribute negatively or positively to young people’s mental health. Hence by working on such and many others, we can approach the youthful lifestyle in an enhanced way and hence a better mental and sexual health. 
 
Leroy Victorine
Public Relations of UN Youth Seychelles