MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MENTAL HEALTH
Living with HIV, facing stigma, and navigating adolescence often come with hidden emotional struggles that go unnoticed and unaddressed. Miles of Smiles Foundation has integrated mental health screening and support into its core adolescent programming- the Warriors’ Camp, Ariel Reunion, and the Skilling Project, so that no young person’s emotional wellbeing is overlooked.
Across all three platforms, trained facilitators use simple, age-appropriate tools to screen adolescents for depression, anxiety, trauma-related distress, and other common mental health difficulties. Young people identified as needing support receive on-site counselling where possible and are referred to school counsellors or nearby health facilities for continued care.
- In the Warriors’ Camps, screening is built into the 5-night residential program, addressing the emotional toll of stigma, disclosure struggles, and living with a high viral load, alongside the camp’s core focus on adherence and viral suppression.
- In the Ariel Reunions, peer leaders and young people are screened during the structured annual discussions, recognizing that those who support others also need support themselves.
- In the Skilling Project, mental health screening is embedded within life-skills sessions in schools, ensuring students get help early, alongside training in leadership, self-esteem, substance abuse prevention, and financial literacy.
Through this integrated approach, Miles of Smiles ensures every adolescent we reach is not only supported to stay healthy physically, but is also seen, heard, and supported emotionally.
