Interventions Yielding Tangible Results:
WOVEN prioritizes the mental well-being of our students as a fundamental aspect of their overall development. Within our counseling department, we have implemented comprehensive support structures to cater to the diverse needs of our beneficiaries. These include personalized one-on-one sessions, group therapy sessions, engaging mental health awareness campaigns, and insightful podcast episodes dedicated to the topic. Through these varied platforms, we strive to ensure that our students maintain optimal mental health levels consistently.
Our concerted focus on fostering good mental health has yielded significant positive outcomes. It has not only enhanced academic performance but also fostered stronger interpersonal relationships among students. Moreover, it has contributed to fostering self-awareness, particularly among female students, empowering them to become vocal advocates for mental health awareness within and without their immediate communities.
Throughout 2023 and the first two months of 2024, our organization ensured that 100% of our beneficiaries benefited from our comprehensive range of mental health interventions.
Specifically:
- Individual Counseling Sessions: 55% of our students received personalized, one-on-one sessions to address their personal mental health concerns and issues, providing them with tailored support and strategies.
- Group Counseling Sessions: 19 girls participated in group counseling sessions aimed at fostering mental support and solidarity among students, creating a supportive environment for them to share experiences and build resilience together.
- Family Therapy Sessions: Our department proactively reached out to three families to offer family therapy sessions, addressing underlying issues within the families that impact students' academic performance. These sessions not only benefited the students but also had a positive impact on their families, providing holistic support for the girls' success.
Furthermore, our counseling program conducted various training sessions on mental health awareness, reaching the girls through diverse platforms such as zonal meetings and AGMs. These sessions empowered the girls to identify mental health issues, seek appropriate help, and maintain a healthy mental state, ensuring their overall well-being and resilience.
The Change/Current Situation
Following our interventions, notable transformations have been observed among our students, positioning them as advocates for mental health awareness. In a recent social experiment conducted in January, the stark differences between WOVEN students and their non-WOVEN counterparts were revealed:
- Understanding of Mental Health: All five WOVEN students confidently defined mental health, providing accurate examples, while only two control students did so with confidence.
- Openness to Discussing Mental Health: ⅘ of WOVEN students expressed no shame in discussing their mental health, in contrast to all control students who admitted skepticism about sharing their issues.
- Identification of Mental Health Concerns: WOVEN students demonstrated the ability to identify mental health concerns, whereas all non-WOVEN students admitted to lacking this skill.
- Access to Counseling Sessions: All non-WOVEN students reported never having attended a mental health counseling session, resorting to either ignoring their issues or acting out. In contrast, WOVEN students confirmed attending such sessions, enabling them to address and resolve their issues more effectively.
Clearly, our interventions are yielding tangible results, empowering students with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to prioritize and manage their mental well-being.
