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The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) recently wrapped up its impactful "Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret” School Outreach" (ScOut) project, which was made possible through the generous support of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance and the Gauteng Department of Education. This initiative aimed to spread awareness and provide education on mental health and suicide prevention across multiple schools in the Gauteng. The ScOut project reached a wide range of individuals in the community, including 72 schools and over 84,000 beneficiaries. This included 79,334 learners, 1,501 educators, 860 parents and community members, 404 learner support agents, and 2,089 educators who attended after-school workshops. Since September 2023, the project has made a significant impact by raising awareness and providing essential resources for mental health and suicide prevention in local schools. The ScOut Team dedicated an entire day at each school, speaking to students in grades 8 through 12 in a structured, class-by-class approach. This method allowed the team to directly address the students' specific concerns and provide them with valuable information about mental health and suicide prevention. In addition, the team held sessions with educators, learner support agents, and ground staff throughout the day to ensure everyone involved in the students' lives was equipped with the knowledge and resources to support them. By focusing on these vital topics, the ScOut project has made a meaningful contribution to the mental health and well-being of students and the broader community. This initiative helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and equips individuals with the tools and resources needed to seek help and support when necessary. SADAG would like to thank everyone involved in this project who contributed to its success. |
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To learn more about the School Outreach Program or to Volunteer contact Roshni This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |