Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura, a 26-year-old Zimbabwean youth leader and PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, founded the Ndinewe Foundation to address gaps in mental health support for young people in Zimbabwe. The foundation provides locally and culturally relevant mental health resources, peer support, and education designed by youth for youth.
The foundation integrates mental health education into community initiatives, such as sporting activities for children and young people. Chikaura highlighted the importance of youth-driven solutions in mental health advocacy, stating that young people need the tools to support themselves and others.
Chikaura is participating in a youth-focused event at UN Headquarters titled One World, One Game, One Goal, which promotes sports as a means of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The event also introduces a global youth mental health campaign aimed at encouraging open discussions about mental health and fostering mutual support among young people worldwide.
The World Health Organization identifies suicide as the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29, with most deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Chikaura noted the urgency of increased investment in youth mental health, particularly in Africa, which has the youngest global population.
Her academic research also addresses suicide prevention among autistic individuals, a group at significantly higher risk of suicide compared to non-autistic people, emphasizing the need for tailored support mechanisms.
According to Chikaura, expanding mental health awareness and providing adequate resources are critical to enabling young people to thrive and lead meaningful lives.