Speaking to high school students in Beirut (Photo: Nicole Khauli)
WA3I in Beirut (Image: Maha Haider)
Feeling empowered by the
success of our first
mental health awareness event at the American University of Beirut, our mental health awareness group WA3I accepted an invitation to speak with high school students at
International College in Beirut. Yesterday, three of our volunteers took the stage at IC to share their personal experiences with mental illness in hopes of opening minds and erasing shame related to mental health issues in Lebanon. We were grateful to be accompanied by the school’s counselor. The event prompted questions from the audience on how to be a good support for a friend, and whether or not medication can be effective without therapy. As far as we know, this was the first time that first-person mental health experiences were shared in a high school in Lebanon (and possibly the Middle East). It was the perfect forum to discuss these important health issues during
Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental illness affects people of all ages, and it cuts across all race, gender, ethnic, and religious divisions. Our group alone consists of students, professionals, graduate students, and professors from a range of different backgrounds in Lebanon, Tunisia, Armenia, and America. The positive feedback we have been receiving from high school students, university students, parents, and mental health professionals in Lebanon and around the world is inspiring us to continue our campaign of raising awareness about mental health in the Middle East to open minds and save lives. Stay tuned to hear about our next groundbreaking event…
To contact WA3I, please send an email to: wa3ilebanon@gmail.com.
