In celebration of World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10 of each year, HUMAN ACCESS in the governorates of Hadhramaut, Al-Mahra and Marib conducted a number of important activities and events within the context of the protection and livelihood support project “Safe Space for Women and Girls”, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to support mental health as a universal human right.

In Wadi Hadhramaut, the safe space organized various activities in the city of Seiyun, including awareness-raising about mental health, targeting a number of displaced mothers in Madouda camp, as well as beneficiaries of the economic empowerment program.

The activities involved the distribution of posters containing meaningful phrases about World Mental Health Day.

In Mahra, the safe space carried out a workshop targeting kindergarten teachers in Al-Ghaydah city.

Children are more likely to suffer from mental health problems than adults, so the goal of this activity is to promote mental health among them, because their rights need to be protected and the root causes must be addressed in order for them to contribute effectively and fully to their local communities.

In Marib, the safe space in Al-Rawda area and Al-Mil camps organized an open day to promote mental health.

The event included various entertainment and awareness programs aimed at reducing societal stigma associated with mental illnesses and disorders and helping people understand mental disorders.

In Wadi Marib, the safe space implemented group psychological support for a number of women suffering from mental health disorders to promote their morale and enhance the spirit of optimism.

Furthermore, the space implemented a mental health program that included symbolic gifts for all employees in order to help boost their mental health.

The space in Wadi Marib also organized an open day for children that included a group of recreational, cultural and sporting activities and games that help improve the child’s psychology, develop his/her mental and intellectual skills and abilities, and enhance the child’s focus, attention and confidence.

At the end of the program, symbolic gifts were distributed to the children, bringing joy to their hearts.

In Al-Matar area, the safe space held a special activity for employees under the title “Mental Health in the Work Environment.”

It also held an open day for women and girls that included many awareness and recreational activities and emphasized the need to integrate psychological assistance into broader health and social care.

Likewise, the safe space in Al-Mujamma area conducted a number of events, such as a mental health training course titled “The Four Happiness Hormones” and a visit to some hospitals in the city with candy and brochures emphasizing the value of maintaining mental health, along with an entertaining activity for children.

With the slogan “Mental health is a universal right,” the safe space in Al Jufaina area provided multiple activities for children to help satisfy their various psychological needs, and facilitated a workshop on mental health on its World Day, which was attended by 24 women.

The space also implemented an entertainment activity for women and girls, accompanied by the distribution of gifts and expressive themes to reduce psychological tension, relieve negative energy, and enhance the positive self.

Additionally, the space in Al Jufaina held a photo exhibition targeting a number of female visitors to the space to participate in reading the psychological and social situation of women through the photos displayed.

In the presence of 23 female visitors to the space, it also held a community awareness session on the importance of mental health, and also presented a purposeful awareness video about mental illnesses and disorders, with the participation of 27 women.

The space held open discussions on the occasion of World Mental Health Day with female students and teachers of a public school.

The discussions, which included competitions and prizes, addressed concepts related to mental health in order to build a healthier world in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive, given the extreme importance of mental health for humans, as there is no health without mental health.