Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. As the Miss Tembisa organization, we are aware of the importance of raising mental health awareness as mental health is essential for a person’s overall health. The month of May was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness, and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. As an organization, we believe that prevention works, treatment is effective and that people can recover from mental health disorders and live full and productive lives.
During the month of May 2021, the Miss Tembisa semi-finalists were divided into groups to address the stigmas and issues around mental health. They were challenged to raise awareness about mental health in the community by either choosing a home or a school. Before visiting the schools and homes, they were required to do their mental health presentation to the management team. In the month of September, Miss Tembisa finalists along with Miss Tembisa 2020/2021 and Miss Congeniality Tembisa 2020/2021 held a suicide prevention and mental health awareness event at Tshepang Care Center. The aim was to make people aware that suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and seeking professional help. Learning about mental health and teaching others about it will help increase the chances of recovery in situations of mental health.