Refilwe believes mental health is important
Miss Exclusive is an empowerment platform for young women aged 18 to 27 in South African provinces, the platform allows young women to grow their confidence, discover their strengths and encourage them to become socially conscious members of society.
Being motivated to enter Miss Gauteng Exclusive because the pageant empowers and encourages one to have a better future, led Riverclub resident Refilwe Monama to participate.
The 22-year-old believes that the pageant has had a positive impact on her life and thinks she should not only focus on beauty, as there are more important things in life. Miss Exclusive is a beauty pageant empowering young women through education, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The platform addresses social ills and runs programmes such as bullying awareness in schools, substance abuse, and gender-based violence.
Monama said she had started a campaign called Worthy Purpose, which aims to help young people with mental health issues.
“I advocated for mental health awareness among the youth because I believe that the brain is the most important tool of the body. If it’s affected negatively, it can ruin one’s future goals by inflicting the mind with negative thoughts. I experienced a mental health breakdown at a very young age when I lost my father, which led to me losing my way and battling with myself mentally.”
She believes that today’s youth face a lot of mental health challenges such as a lack of self-esteem and self-awareness, and try so hard to be what they are not. They forget about their talents and start being led by bad influences around them.
“I believe that trying to raise awareness of mental health issues such as lack of self-esteem and self-awareness should be taught at a very young age so that the youth have a better understanding of how harmful it can be to one’s future.”
Monama added she planned on reaching out to government or private mental health organisations to work hand in hand with them.
“By so doing I can go give speeches at youth events, schools, and in nearby communities so that at least parents have a clue of what is causing the rise of mental health breakdown in today’s youth and to try and get them the help they need.
“Parents, society and teachers play a very important role in the youth’s mental health as we look up to them. These people are meant to help us and also share their experiences with us to be helped.”
Monama concluded by highlighting that there should be more support groups and mental health awareness organisations in our society, and hoped her campaign would go a long way in realising this.
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