Overview
Bible Society Australia is supporting the Bible Society of Kenya (BSK) in launching a teen Trauma Healing program. BSK will train teachers and peer counsellors, enabling them to support adolescents who may be facing trauma-related issues. BSK will also conduct awareness sessions for parents on teen trauma.
Recent research by the Kenyan Ministry of Health and stakeholders reveals a distressing upsurge in youth mental health issues, worsened by COVID-19 and family challenges. In schools, BSK has noted increased truancy, depression, and even suicides among students, causing distress among educators and parents.
These teenagers face imminent threats to their well-being due to traumatic experiences. There is an urgent need for the Church to become a refuge for healing, extending its support into schools.
World Health Organization statistics underscore the importance of addressing these issues, as emotional disorders affect school performance and attendance, while social withdrawal deepens isolation and depression, sometimes leading to suicide.
Statistics:
- 10-20% of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental health condition.
- 100 trauma healing facilitators will be trained to conduct teen healing sessions.
- 5,000 students will be reached with trauma healing support in 2024.
- 5,000 teens will receive a Bible to refer to during trauma healing sessions.
If the appeal is oversubscribed or the project changes due to unforeseen reasons, we will reallocate remaining funds to similar projects.
