Windhoek: The Khomas Schools Sports Region (KSSR) on Thursday officially hosted the first-ever Teachers’ Wellness Day to raise awareness of the emotional stress educators experience. The event, which focused on financial management and wellness support, follows the recent suicides of three teachers in the Ohangwena Region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the event was held at the St Barnabas Primary School in Windhoek and attracted a large number of teachers, as well as representatives of financial organisations such as the Bank of Namibia (BoN) and Old Mutual Namibia. A candle lighting and a moment of silence were observed in remembrance of the lost lives.

Speaking during the event, industrial psychologist and senior lecturer in industrial psychology at the University of Namibia (UNAM), Dr Annelisa Murangi, described the day as crucial as it marks the first of its kind, not only for the Khomas Region, but also for the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture. Dr Murangi also challenged schools to involve psychologists in the process of restructuring wellness initiatives in their workplaces. ‘Look for those psychologists. Bring them to your school so that they can help restructure the whole process,’ she stated.

In his welcoming remarks, St Barnabas Primary School principal Nahason Mbangura said the teachers’ presence at the event is a powerful gesture, regardless of the reasons why they showed up. ‘Whether we are here to learn, to share, to support, or simply to listen, we are taking a powerful step just by showing up. Today is about breaking the silence, reducing the stigma, and reminding ourselves and each other that it’s okay not to be okay. And it’s more than okay to ask for help,’ Mbangura stressed. ‘Mental health matters, and so do you,’ he added. Mbangura concluded by encouraging his fellow educators to be open, kind, and gentle with themselves.