Applications for SAFMH’s Youth Mental Health Advocacy and Advisory Forum 2024-2025 Are Open! Apply here by Sunday 4 August 2024 23:59 SAST!
Background:
The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) invites applicants to apply for our second online youth forum for national mental health advocacy. The online forum aims to build the capacity, skills, and voices of young people in South Africa to create positive change in our country’s mental health advocacy, policies and systems. The forum will also support members develop a mental health awareness campaign.
The online forum will run for six months (1 September 2024 – 31 March 2025) and will be comprised of weekly meetings and additional monthly mentorship meets. Members must be available to dedicate about 2.5 hours a week for forum activities, excluding in December.
SAFMH strongly encourages young people who self-identify as having lived experience of mental ill-health or psychosocial disability to apply.
Among other benefits, forum members will:
- Gain enhanced digital self-advocacy skills and knowledge about the South African mental health landscape via online trainings (data stipend provided to cover costs for online meetings)
- Add voice to influence decision-makers at a national and global level regarding existing and future mental health policies and services in South Africa
- Act in an advisory capacity to help inform SAFMH and other decisionmakers on strategic directions to be prioritised for mental health and youth
- Receive mentorship and small seed funding to run a physical or digital mental health awareness campaign in their community
- Network with other mental health colleagues working in the mental health field in South Africa
Eligibility Criteria:
– Are 18 to 24 years old at the time of application
– Can commit to about 2.5 hours per week for the forum for the six months, excluding in December
– Living in KwaZulu Natal or North West Province
– Able to speak, read and write English proficiently
– Owns a device (laptop, smartphone, tablet) that can support Zoom
– Passionate about mental health advocacy and wishes to create positive change in youth mental health
