Month of Mental Health raises awareness of loneliness

Lakshmi Kothaneth

@lakshmioman

This year’s Not Alone campaign has urged everyone to write a letter to someone who needs to know that they are not alone to mark May, the Month of Mental Health.

It calls for writing to people irrespective of their location in the world.

“We are extremely happy that we are collaborating with Oman Post,” said the founder of the Not Alone campaign, HH Sayyida Basma al Said, at a function held at the Oman National Museum on Sunday.

Observing its eighth edition, the theme of this year’s Mental Health Month is loneliness. The team associated with it has taken many initiatives to spread awareness on various aspects of mental health over the past years.

“Even if there are people around us, we can still feel lonely. Especially after the pandemic, we have lost a lot of people, family members and friends.

So basically, it is about pushing awareness creatively where everybody would want to be part of it,” she said.

The event’s highlight was the introduction of the Diana Awards, Sayyida Basma being the first Arab judge.

“I have already finished judging for this year, and we are now looking at next year. It is a responsibility, and there have also been emotions. It is rewarding youth with projects that have been going on,” she pointed out.

The Chief Executive Officer of Diana Awards, Tessy Ojo CBE, said Diana Awards is the official legacy of Princess Diana and the Award itself looks out for young people who continue her legacy through their selfless action.

“We are looking for young people who display empathy, compassion, selflessness -- young people who often go where the pain is, like Princess Diana. She is an iconic figure worldwide, and people know her compassion. So we are looking for young people globally,” Ojo explained.

According to her, Princess Diana always believed that young people have the power to change. So the Award is looking for young people who show signs of greatness.

“We want to nurture that greatness. We want to invest in these young people because ultimately we want to build incredible young leaders globally,” she pointed out.

The Award is global for individuals from 9 years of age to 25. They can be eligible to receive their Award for their social action or humanitarian work.

According to the organisation, Diana Awardees are given access to a unique development programme which aims to further increase their already proven capacity for innovation, leadership and social change through access to the resources, opportunities and training, both face to face and online.