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Association uses handball to combat mental health

By Hope Chimwala

Malawi Handball Association (MAHA)  has launched a Handball in Schools Programme to address rising mental health concerns among the youth thereby promoting mental health awareness and well-being among youths.

MAHA Secretary General, Dennis Kumwenda, said in an interview on Tuesday that mental health is a major problem amongst the youth in the country hence the programme.

Handball in Schools Programme will be implemented in all districts and schools in the country to ensure inclusivity of both rural and urban schools in the campaign.

“As an association, we have empowered regional committees to constitute district handball committees in all the districts as a way of reaching out to all schools.

“This has been done to ensure that all learners from rural and urban areas are benefiting from this programme and are able to deal with mental health,” he said.

Kumwenda said sporting activities are crucial among the youth in dealing with their challenges as they activate their way of thinking.

“Players are very active and intelligent people because as they are playing, they have to make fast decisions and in so doing are improving their mental reasoning which enhances their problem-solving skills,” he said.

In a separate interview, Catherine Thangalimodzi, a psychotherapist and mental health advocate said promoting the sport of handball in schools will help minimize cases of mental health as physical exercises stimulate hormones in the body which helps reduce stress and anxiety.

“Everyone can be affected by mental health from various perspectives; introducing these games in schools will ensure that young ones stand a chance of minimizing stress and anxiety. A person who exercises is always active and their way of thinking is different from those who do not exercises at all,” she said.

MAHA, which is working with Malawi Sports in Schools (MASS), launched the Handball in Schools Programme in Lilongwe on Saturday, November 30 under the theme “Using Sports to Impact Mental Health and Recreation.”

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