![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/Trauma-1-Patrick-Owiny-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
October 9, 2025 – <\/b>From August to September 2025, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative joined the refugee community in Kiryandongo to mark Suicide Awareness Month, reaching 300 people, including 200 women and 100 men. Refugees in the settlement continue to face profound challenges to their mental health, carrying the weight of trauma, displacement, and loss often compounded by their present life conditions. Too often, these struggles remain unseen, hidden by stigma and silence. This month presented a powerful opportunity to break through those barriers, remind the community that mental health is a vital aspect of overall health, and emphasize that no one should face their struggles alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the month, WPDI organized storytelling sessions, dialogues, and awareness workshops led by local leaders and Youth Peacemakers. These activities created safe spaces where participants could freely share their experiences, connect with one another, and learn coping skills. Community members were empowered to recognize early warning signs of distress, such as withdrawal, hopelessness, or changes in mood, and to step in with compassion and support. Survivors shared personal testimonies of resilience and recovery, inspiring others and offering a message of hope: healing is possible.<\/span><\/p>\n Aya<\/strong>, a 19-year-old refugee from Sudan, first learned about WPDI\u2019s work during Suicide Awareness Week. She joined a session titled\u00a0\u201cThe Journey of Life,\u201d<\/em> where survivors opened up about their paths to healing.\u00a0\u201c<\/span>I realized I am not alone,<\/span><\/i>\u201d Aya said. \u201c<\/span>Hearing their stories gave me the strength to speak openly about my struggles and the courage to support others facing similar challenges.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For Adam<\/strong>, a 21-year-old Sudanese participant, the training was a turning point. <\/span>\u201cBefore, I didn\u2019t know how to recognize distress in others. Now I feel confident stepping in to support my friends,<\/span><\/i>\u201d he explained. Inspired by the sessions, Adam has become a mental health advocate in his community, determined to break down stigma and encourage others to seek help.<\/span><\/p>\n Abdel,<\/strong> 25, also found new strength through WPDI\u2019s psychoeducation sessions. Having fled conflict earlier that year, he struggled with anxiety and numbness. \u201c<\/span>That day changed everything,<\/span><\/i>\u201d he said. \u201c<\/span>Through the sessions, I learned practical tools like breathing exercises. I now feel stronger, more hopeful, and ready to face life\u2019s challenges.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By the end of Suicide Awareness Month, the activities had not only raised awareness but also helped build resilience and solidarity within the settlement. Survivors\u2019 courage to share their stories served as a reminder that no one has to suffer in silence. This initiative underscored the pressing need to prioritize mental health as a fundamental aspect of community well-being. The quality and dedication of our team were instrumental in addressing a topic that remains deeply difficult to discuss in many traditional settings, creating a safe space for open and healing conversations. In Kiryandongo, despair was met with compassion, silence was broken by dialogue, and isolation gave way to hope.<\/span><\/p>\n