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Mental health issues can impede all aspects of a young person’s health, including overall well-being and development, leaving adolescents feeling socially isolated, stigmatized and unable to optimize their social, vocational and interpersonal contributions to society. Understanding adolescent girls’ and boys’ unique and common vulnerabilities to mental health risks, including the impacts of harmful gender norms and the factors that can protect and enhance their mental health and wellbeing, are crucial when considering appropriate policies and interventions. This presentation will discuss why mental health matters and provide resources that can help youth be actively engaged in addressing mental health within their communities.
Suicide is a significant and growing global health problem which has consistently ranked among the leading causes of death for older adolescent girls and boys globally. Poor mental health in adolescence is strongly associated with higher rates of substance use, early pregnancy, school dropout, delinquent behaviors and suicide. It can contribute to more serious mental disorders and overall poor health later in life. Understanding adolescent girls’ and boys’ unique and common vulnerabilities to mental health risks, including the impacts of harmful gender norms and the factors that can protect and enhance their mental health and wellbeing, are crucial when considering appropriate policies and interventions.
Join speakers from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and More to Life International to learn how these issues can be addressed.
Speakers:
Dr. Chisina Kapungu: Dr. Kapungu has nearly 15 years of experience as a clinical psychologist and community-based researcher with expertise in adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. The foundation of her clinical and research work has been to improve health outcomes for women and girls in partnerships with health providers, community-based organizations, and government institutions. Prior to joining ICRW, Chisina was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with a joint appointment at the Center for Research on Women and Gender and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Marie Louise Ocran: Ms. Marie Louise Ocran, a Ghanaian beauty queen, is the founder of “More to Life International,” an organization that provides mental health education to youth in impoverished communities. She has used media in Ghana to raise awareness about the need for programs addressing mental health and wellbeing by appearing on radio, TV and producing videos. She is currently raising awareness among government officials and CEOs in leading industries. As of today, Marie-Louise Ocran is building a preparatory school in Accra, Ghana in which will offer a mental health focused curriculum to its students. She is also studying law to one day legislate laws that will mandate mental health education in schools and provide adequate support to the mentally ill.
