#GOGREENFORMENTALHEALTH
October is Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa and Maritzburg College is going green with the launch of the #gogreenformentalhealth campaign! This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day (10 October) is ‘Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority’. The #gogreenformentalhealthcampaign is all about making mental health and well-being a priority at College. It’s about creating awareness, sparking conversation, normalising accessing support services, and reducing the stigma attached to mental health issues. We want to encourage our College community to take care of their mental health and support those around them in doing the same.
At the same time, the campaign is also aiming to support our wider community. As part of the campaign, we will be fundraising for PMB Mental Health. PMB Mental Health is a well-established non-profit organisation that continues to be a beacon of hope for persons with psychosocial and intellectual disability in Pietermaritzburg offering social work programmes, residential programmes, and employment programmes. PMB Mental Health time and again goes beyond the call of duty caring for those who are marginalised and ensuring that families and communities are informed about mental health and well-being.
A few things to look out for in the month of October…
#thegreenribbonproject
The Green Ribbon Project was initiated at Maritzburg College in 2021. The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness. Worn during Mental Health Awareness Month, the ribbon demonstrates our show of support and respect for those who suffer from mental ill-health as well as showing a commitment to protecting our own and others’ mental health. Ribbons will be on sale for the month of October and we’re encouraging all boys and staff to don their green ribbons for the month.
Colour Run for Mental Health
On 28 October 2022, we will be hosting a flagship event of its kind for Maritzburg College – a colour run! We will be mapping out a 5km route around the school campus for people to run/walk/jump/skip/dance along. At certain points during the route, participants, who begin the race in white, will be doused with coloured powder from head to toe. Instead of the traditional colour runs that use a multitude of coloured powder, Maritzburg College’s event will be all green in keeping with the global colour representing mental health awareness. By the end of the race, participants will literally have gone green for mental health!
Keep a look out for more details on both of these initiatives coming soon!
Keep an eye on social media and share your stories around mental health with us. If you or your business would like to be involved in supporting the campaign, please email Ms Cassidy Griffiths on griffithsc@mcollege.co.za or Mrs Myrlin Kyle on kylem@mcollege.co.za.