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Faith Mvududu, a Development Studies third-year student at Zimbabwe Open University, scooped the Second Runner Up Health and Wellness Coach of the Year 2021 Award for her work around mental health awareness and advocacy, through sharing of her personal experience with depression and anxiety that had her survive five attempted suicides 15 years ago.
Ms. Mvududu’s work was recognized by International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation (ICMF) under the International Coaching and Mentoring Annual Awards (ICMAA) and this year’s theme was “Golden Standards In Coaching”, held at the Cresta Sango Conference Center on Friday the 19th of November 2021.
The pandemic and lockdown did not hinder Ms. Mvududu’s work, as she made use of technology in impacting 10 000 plus people through various platforms, as diverse organisations sought her expertise surrounding mental health awareness and advocacy.
Ms. Mvududu is also the founding Director of Lily Blossom Academy – a virtual global institution and Christian-oriented academy that currently has collaborating delegates from 15 Nations, 11 Nationalities, and 17 Organisations based throughout the globe.
Lily Blossom Academy is also currently on a 40-day Journey Fight Against Gender-Based Violence initiative that started on the 1st of November 2021 and will end on the 10th of December 2021 called #canyouhearus.
The second movement is a Men and Boys 30-day Journey Fight Against Gender-Based Violence called #shieldhermovement that started on the 10th of November and will end on the 10th of December 2021.
Ms. Mvududu says that these two journeys represent the power of collaboration amidst diversity. She urged governments in Africa to consider establishing more safe houses available for women who have no idea where to go if they escape the claws of violence. Some are in hiding without any resources to start from or sustain them. Everyone has a role to play and everyone has the potential of being the change they desire to seek since in unity there is progress.
“Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy is a crucial part of our lives and we as Lily Blossom Academy desire to see 22 000 trained Mental Health First Aiders emerging from Africa by year-end of 2022 by God’s grace. A lot of money is involved. The course itself costs £200-£300 British Pounds per person and thus we are looking at £6.6 million British Pounds needed. In unity there is progress. Africa has a mental health crisis that must be granted urgent attention and allocated resources.
“There is also a great need to demystify stigma surrounding mental health. Depression and anxiety know no social status, race, or tribe. It can affect anyone at any time and together we can eradicate this pandemic by physically investing in educating our societies of what mental health is and how to handle it when someone is in a crisis. Mental health first aiders are the ones you call when there is a crisis of suicide threats, substance abuse, and so forth. Our duty is to assist in changing the decision to commit such an act and then we refer them to necessary professionals, such as therapists, counsellors, physiologists and so forth. Our job is not an easy one because you are standing in between a life-threatening situation and life-giving. It is a calling and requires passion, ” Ms. Mvududu said.