International Mental Health Week- Malawi Scout
Stress and anxiety don’t respect borders. People from different countries all face the same struggles with stress and mental health. Because scouting is an international organization, we used that network to reach out to scouts from different countries through our “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” initiative. The goal was to share knowledge and practical skills on how to strengthen mental health programs within scouting. Bringing people together across countries made the conversations richer
We tapped into scouting’s international network to connect with scouts across different countries. The aim was to create a space where we could share knowledge and practical skills for strengthening mental health programs within scouting. We dedicated a full week to mental health, and during that time each group brought their own experiences and approaches to the table. That exchange made the conversations richer and gave everyone ideas they could adapt in their own communities.
Talking with scouts from different countries made it clear that stress and anxiety aren’t local problems, and that sharing experiences helps break the silence around them. I also learned that creating a space where people feel safe to say “it’s okay not to be okay” makes a real difference in how openly they share and support each other. The week reminded me that connection itself is part of the solution, and that small steps taken together can lead to lasting change in our own communities
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