The national suicide watchdog, Fa’ataua Le Ola, FLO, commemorated World Mental Health Day on Saturday, 10 October 2020, yesterday.
The occasion is highlighted as an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
Globally, the goal is to help raise mental health awareness so that each of us can make a contribution to ensure that people dealing with mental health problems can live better lives with dignity. The purpose of Mental Health Week in Samoa, is to raise awareness about mental health and end the stigma, discrimination and shame that surrounds this topic. This is a national, annual event which encourages all people to talk about, learn and reflect on mental health issues.
Faataua Le Ola’s strategic vision is “a Samoa that is fully empowered to value life”. In valuing life, our mission is to provide information, services and support to assist in the prevention of suicide.
With the affects of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this year 2020 has been a tough one for the whole world, particularly for people living with mental illness and their caregivers. Global research shows that Covid-19 has generated more mental health issues for 80% of people living with mental illness and has made their mental health worse. World Mental Health Day 2020 is therefore dedicated to giving a voice to people with lived experience of mental health issues and looking ahead to what they want for a better world, post pandemic.
Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale, Faataua Le Ola’s Executive Council Chairman said that FLO supports and joins forces with other local groups and ministries working within the mental health sphere, namely, MOH Mental Health Unit, Goshen Trust, Salvation Army and other social services to promote World Mental Health week. “Together, our goal is to reach out to people in Samoa and abroad, and encourage them to battle, not succumb, to their mental problems” he said.
Lime Green is the theme colour for World Mental Health Day 2020. Faataua Le Ola board and staff members, this week wore their official World Mental Health Day lime green uniform. Their office premises was decorated with lime green balloons, and a World Mental Health Day banner hung in front of the office premises at the John Williams Building.
FLO has a 24 hours / 7 days a week 800-5433 helpline that is accessible to everyone in Samoa. FLO also offers its services through social media mode. FLO’s Executive Director, Papalii Tiumalu Caroline Paul-Ah Chong said, “we want to send out a message that EVERYONE MATTERS and that we should support one another, not just those we love but everyone, even strangers, who may need a helping hand, especially those living with mental health problems”. She urges people to look out for warning signs that someone may be living with mental illness, signs such as, Long-lasting sadness or irritability, Extremely high and low moods, Excessive fear, worry or anxiety, Social withdrawal, Dramatic changes in eating and / or sleeping habits.
Papalii said “We all, at some point in our lives, find ourselves in circumstances where things are seemingly out of our control, and these are often the things that we care most and worry about. But Philippians 4: 6-7 offers us a semblance of comfort and peace. In often times, life can be terrifying, particularly when we are taking risks or challenged by crisis. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4: 6 states “do not be anxious about anything…” and 4:7 “and God’s peace…will keep your hearts and minds safe…” As Christians, we have a way to acknowledge our anxiety and plead in our despair, knowing that we are not alone, and that is through reading the Word of God and by the power of prayer. That is showing true FAITH. The Bible encourages us to focus on what is good and kind, to show empathy and gentleness and to make sacrifices for others, even when it hurts”.
FLO’s Board and Staff, invites everyone to help them, deliver the message of World Suicide Prevention Day 10th September and World Mental Health Day 10th October which is to “Connect, Communicate, Care” and help erase the stigma that surrounds mental health and the curse of discrimination, rejection, judgment, shame and condemnation that is placed on people suffering from or living with mental health problems.
Faataua Le Ola’s theme song for World Mental Health Week 2020 is “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Papalii said, “There is a feeling of hope within the song that we can all relate to and it is an expression of faith that there is something better ahead. It is a comforting companion on our long and arduous journey towards happiness. Let us rise together and trust in faith, that the bad and difficult times that we all come to experience at some point in our lives, will always “one day be over”.