Accra:Hardap Ricky Jacobs, a youth advocate from Hardap, has been selected as a Wellbeing Champion for the Commonwealth Youth Council's 'Are You Okay?' campaign in Namibia. The initiative focuses on promoting mental health awareness and providing support to young people.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Jacobs, who works as a community-based facilitator at Lifeline/Childline Namibia and serves as the regional coordinator for Youth4CAN Namibia, believes this role will enhance his efforts in raising mental health awareness. He encourages young people to seek help without fear of judgment.

Jacobs highlighted challenges such as unemployment, academic pressure, family difficulties, and future uncertainties that impact the wellbeing of young people. He identified stigma and fear of being misunderstood as significant barriers to open discussions about mental health.

He advocates for creating safe spaces where young people feel comfortable seeking help, emphasizing that asking for help is an act of courage rather than a sign of weakness. Jacobs plans to engage with young people in rural and underserved communities through school visits, community dialogues, awareness campaigns, and peer support initiatives.

Jacobs stressed the importance of schools, parents, community leaders, and youth organizations in creating environments where young individuals can openly discuss their issues and access help. At the Schlip Multi-Purpose Community Centre, he aims to facilitate youth wellbeing dialogues, mental health awareness sessions, and outreach programs, collaborating with relevant stakeholders.

He intends to assess the impact of these initiatives through participation rates, feedback, and changes in mental health awareness among the youth. Jacobs also pointed out the need for access to counseling, career guidance, skills development, mentorship, and employment opportunities to help young people overcome personal and socioeconomic challenges.

Under the campaign's message 'Ask, Listen, Connect, Act,' Jacobs encourages communities to support one another without judgment and urges young people facing difficulties to reach out to trusted individuals. He hopes to foster communities where mental health is understood, seeking help is encouraged, and every young person feels valued and supported.