The Speak Out Seek Help (SOSH) concert was launched Friday, aimed at breaking the stigma around mental illness in the entertainment and performing arts industry.
Set to take place on 8 October, two days before World Mental Health Day, the concert also aspires to raise funds for musicians to access mental health services.
Organised by D-Naff Entertainment, in partnership with the #BreakFree movement and LifeLine/ChildLine, it strives to empower musicians and other public figures as role models to influence Namibians to normalise mental illness and seek help.
A musician himself, D-Naff, real name Naftalie Shigwedha Amukwelele, said during the launch that having seen some of his fellow musicians and family members take their own lives due to reasons unknown, the message is to ‘Speak Out and Seek Help’, hence the need to raise awareness on mental health issues throughout the country by using the force of music.
“Many musicians, because of their status in society, are reluctant to seek mental health support services from public service providers, and are more likely to make use of private mental health practitioners,” he observed.
However, they are faced with financial challenges, as most musicians do not have a stable income and many solely rely on music shows to make ends meet, but have not had shows for over two years because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Namibia.
“This has affected their livelihoods, and left most with different mental health problems. One life affected is one too many.”
D-Naff entertainment will further partner with mental health service providers to capacitate musicians with skills and knowledge to achieve mental health, as well as accompany them on outreach programmes.
Another purpose of the concert is to unify and break down the barriers in the music industry, and establish a platform that celebrates all genres of music, including traditional, RnB, house, soukus, kwasa, Afropop, rap and hip hop that is inspirational, motivational and educational.
“The concert seeks to give musicians the platform to change their experiences and to motivate and inspire the nation, which Namibia currently needs, and also serve as voices of reason and break the walls of isolation.”
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2022 is ‘Make mental health for all a global priority”.
In this light, D-Naff Entertainment aims to champion mental health in the country through the establishment of a mental health outreach project, which will see the team visit schools, prisons, old age homes, child care facilities, private companies as well as public places to raise awareness on mental health.
Vernica Theron from the #BreakFree movement, run by the Office of the First Lady, said more such partnerships are needed to help fight mental illnesses.