By Grace Makwaza
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SDG 3.4 states:
By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
It calls us to address preventable diseases and pay attention to our mental health in all areas of our lives, including our schools.
Students all over the world suffer in silence because of the academic and social pressures in the classroom. 2020 did not make it any easier on any of us; some are depressed and others have lost the enthusiasm of going to school all together. These and many reasons inspired Gelila Mengistu, an MUN Impact diplomat from Africa to ask the question, “How Are You, Really?”
On Friday 16th October 2020, Gelila Mengistu alongside students from Machabeng College International School of Lesotho held an SDG 3.4 seminar tagged How Are You, Really. Here, they educated students from the aforementioned mental health concerns and about the need to implement SDG 3.4. They discussed sensitive issues such as anxiety, depression, pressure at school, expectations society has on students and others. Ultimately, the goal was to encourage students to take care of themselves mentally and persevere despite the challenges they may encounter. Students were given tips on how to cope with the stress that 2020 has placed on everyone.
As the seminar progressed, Ms. Mengistu shed light about controversial issues that people hardly talk about. For instance, the pressure that is on students at all angles, both socially and academically. She spoke of how all these can cause detrimental damage to one’s mental health. In addition, she gave insight on how coping can be easy if we join hands to implement SDG 3.4. Doing something as simple as asking your friend every morning the question, “How Are You, Really” could lower the chance of someone committing suicide or falling into a deep abyss of mental breakdowns. She and her peers further expressed how it is important to support each other at school, be honest with parents and teachers about the struggles students face and be willing to get the help they need to cope with the stress. That way, their transparency promotes SDG 3.4 while saving students’ lives as well.
Some people feel overwhelmed; some feel like their feelings are invalid while others feel like nobody will understand that they are struggling internally. If you struggle with these, Ms Mengistu’s message to you is simple: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. In her words, “Being afraid to admit that you are struggling inside makes you susceptible to more pain. Acknowledging it will only help you deal with it better.”
In conclusion, this seminar did not only inspire students to actively implement SDG 3.4 but it gave hope to so many. Many thanks to all the students who spoke and helped make the event a success. Thank you for inspiring the entire MUN Impact Global community to prioritize their mental health through the implementation of SDG 3.4.