Building on the success of our 2023/2024 pilot forum, SAFMH expanded the National Mental Health Youth Advocacy Forum to include two additional provinces, while continuing to support the original cohort. With youth still underrepresented in South Africa’s mental health policy spaces, the forum remains a vital platform for advocacy and empowerment.
The forum aimed to empower young mental health advocates to guide national mental health advocacy and awareness efforts while enhancing their voices, advocacy skills, capacity, and mental health knowledge. Nine members (aged 18-24 years) from the previous pilot forum chose to continue as alumni and were further supported to continue their ongoing advocacy in the form of practical work outputs. Fifteen new youth mental health advocates (aged 18-24 years) from the North West and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provinces were selected to participate in a six-month virtual advocacy programme. They formed Cohort Two.
The forum’s approach combined advocacy training, professional insights, self-directed learning, and a practical awareness campaign.
To celebrate the end of another successful year, we welcomed all forum members for an in-person gathering at the SAFMH offices in Johannesburg. It was a wonderful weekend of connection and reflection. You can watch a short snippet from the gathering here.
To learn more about the forum, make sure to read through our evaluation report below.
