AMHHR News & Updates
Advocacy for Mental Health and Human Rights Sierra Leone (AMHHR-SL) yesterday conducted an outreach visit to the Bo Remand Home, popularly known as Bennimix, to engage juveniles on the relationship between climate change and mental health, while promoting environmental responsibility among young people.
AMHHR-SL recognises that climate change is not only an environmental crisis but also a growing threat to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Rising temperatures, environmental degradation, pollution, and poor living conditions can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, emotional distress, fatigue, and difficulties with concentration.
The organisation is particularly concerned about young people in remand facilities who are separated from their families and community support systems. In confined environments, challenges such as overcrowding, limited mobility, and inadequate ventilation can heighten the psychological effects of environmental stress, especially for juveniles who may already be experiencing mental health challenges.
These realities highlight the importance of creating supportive environments, promoting mental health awareness, and providing opportunities for positive engagement.
During the outreach, AMHHR-SL educated the juveniles on the causes and impacts of climate change and its connection to mental wellbeing. Participants were encouraged to adopt environmentally responsible practices, including proper waste disposal, reducing pollution, avoiding indiscriminate bush burning, protecting existing trees, planting new trees, and maintaining clean surroundings.
To encourage active participation, the juveniles took part in a creative drawing exercise in which they illustrated local activities that contribute to climate change, including bush burning and improper waste disposal.
The outreach provided an opportunity to connect climate education, mental health awareness, and environmental responsibility while encouraging young people to become more conscious of their role in protecting their communities and environment.