Self-care and Hope through Adolescent-led- led Mental Health and Psychosocial Support(SHAMS)

SHAMS was conceptualised and designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Reduce mental health stigma and discrimination and promote acceptance of care-seeking among adolescent girls and boys (10-19 years) and their caregivers, increase the adoption of positive self-care practices among adolescent and promote protective factors.
2. Provide clear information about children protection in emergencies, threats, and strategies to address them.
3. Equip adolescent girls and boys with the skills necessary to identify and provide support to their peers experiencing distress.
4. Facilitate the referral of adolescents to specialised Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and child protection services when needed.
5. Implement a youth mentoring program for adolescents in residential alternative care (KP Pilot).

SHAMS Awareness Sessions

SHAMS Awareness Sessions aims to provide adolescents and their caregivers with vital information concerning mental health and psychosocial needs. The overarching aim is to establish community-based support structures, promoting an environment where young individuals can effectively navigate and overcome their mental health challenges.

Deliverables: 

• Conducted a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) survey in 34 districts in Pakistan, engaging over 1100 adolescents and 1000 caregivers.
• Facilitated 21 focused group discussions (FGDs), actively involving 210 adolescents and caregivers, to gather valuable insights and perspectives on mental health
• Developed the SHAMS Awareness Raising content package, based on insights from the KAP survey and FGDs, including training manual for facilitators and customized handbooks for adolescents and caregivers
• Mapped 229 union councils and identified key stakeholders like CSOs, CBOs, youth groups, and school networks, to foster strategic collaborations for community engagement and program support.
• Trained 61 facilitators in two 3-day Training of Facilitators (ToF), providing them with essential knowledge and understanding of the programme’s goals.
• Built the capacity of over 10,562 adolescents and 10,367 caregivers in 2-day district-level MHPSS awareness sessions.
• Reached 55185 adolescents through 1208 SHAMS Wellbeing Action Projects led by trained adolescents.

I Support My Friends

I Support My Friend, based on the principles of Psychological First Aid, aims to provide older children and adolescents with the essential skills and knowledge to support their peers during challenging times. It offers a supportive framework for them to navigate complex emotional situations, promoting resilience and emotional intelligence. The adolescents are guided and mentored by trusted adults, who act as role models and a safe space for any concerns while they assist their peers through struggles.

Deliverables: 

• Contextualized “I Support My Friends” program in Pakistan, blending global psychological first aid principles with culturally specific examples, language, and relatable scenarios to empower local adolescents.
• Mapped and selected “I Support My Friends” beneficiaries by prioritizing passionate teachers and strategically choosing schools with ample support structures, resulting in implementation across 311 schools in 219 union councils across 34 districts nationwide.
• Conducted a 3-day ToF of 27 facilitators from across the country in Karachi 
• Executed 34 district-level workshops engaging 513 teachers from 346 schools in a 2-day program, fostering gender balance with 256 males and 257 females. 
• Implemented “I Support My Friends” in 346 schools, directly engaging over 10,381 adolescents aged 10-19. The 3-day sessions offered practical tools for emotional well-being and peer support, extending beyond theoretical knowledge.

Mentoring Programme for Adolescents at Zamung Kor

The pilot program is designed to support 50 adolescents, aged between 14 and 17, living in Zamung Kor, as they transition towards an independent and empowered life. It provides these adolescents with the necessary skills and knowledge, ensuring their capability to lead a fulfilling life once they step out of the facility when they reach the age of 18. This program places special emphasis on their long-term mental well-being and the development of healthy coping mechanisms, integral to their happiness and health in the outside world.

Deliverables:

• Conducted a Needs Assessment for 50 adolescents to better comprehend their well-being and adapt the program content.
• Developed a tailored curriculum, which includes Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Skills modules, to address adolescent challenges.
• Recruited a dynamic team of 23 young mentors to spearhead the program sessions.
• Organised a 2-day capacity-building training to equip the mentors with the necessary skills to effectively deliver the program content to their mentees.
• Successfully executed a 26-week mentoring program for 50 adolescents, featuring both individual and group sessions.

Digital Media Campaign

The SHAMS digital campaign, titled #InThisTogether, aimed to reach at least 5 million people through various social media channels with co-developed Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) content. Running from August to December, this transformative initiative worked to raise awareness about MHPSS, prevent stigma, and promote care-seeking practices. 

Deliverables:

• Executed a 6-month campaign with three distinct phases – Awareness, Consideration, and Action, strategically presenting relevant content pieces to achieve campaign objectives.
• Reached 3.1 million adolescents with the campaign’s empowering message.
• Spread awareness to 2.3 million adults through our initiative.
• Achieved 9.4 million video views, amplifying the campaign’s impact.
• Encouraged active participation and discussions, resulting in 1.8 million post engagements.