Mental Health Awareness Month: How Loza overcame social anxiety
October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as always, we’re working hard to support the psychological wellbeing of hundreds of displaced women, girls, men and boys.
One of those we’re happy to have been able to reach in recent months is Loza, a young Yazidi who is originally from Sinjar. She has been living with her family at Essyan camp ever since ISIS attacked their village in 2014 and they had to flee to the mountain for safety.
Being forced into displacement has understandably had very negative impacts on Loza’s mental health, and she says: “Before I came to the camp I would spend all my time in the house helping my mother. I had social anxiety, and was very shy and scared to communicate and make friends.”
But since taking part in the Lotus Flower’s Youth Suicide Prevention project, which is supported by the German Consulate in Erbil, she has found her outlook on life has changed for the better.
“After joining the project and participating in the activities, my mental wellbeing has improved and I feel a lot better. I have been spending my time coming to the centre to participate in training, then I go home in the afternoon to help my mother and study all the things I’ve been taught to improve my skills.
“I have become aware of the signs of mental health issues, including recognising them and learning how to deal with them in daily life. Overall, I have become more optimistic, and happier.”
Project activities have include art and music therapy, as well as yoga and mental health counselling.
Having also had the chance to learn English through the programme, Loza adds: “It's beneficial for young people to join such projects, because they will gain more knowledge, become more social, make new friends – and have fun. These types of projects can contribute to youths’ mental health wellbeing positively, and they are very important for us to improve our thoughts and understanding. We enjoy our time together.”
Loza now aims to become fluent in English, and to improve her computer and software skills – and we’ll be right behind her as she pursues her ambitions!
Support our mental health work
We badly need funding to reach more traumatised youths and conflict survivors. Can you support us?