INTRODUCTION: MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

 May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and our blog series will feature how we can create awareness and help mothers in need. 

This month is all about raising public and professional awareness of perinatal mental health problems and advocating for women and families impacted.

So, what exactly is Maternal Mental Health?

 According to the WHO, maternal mental health reflects the overall wellness of a mother, where she can actively engage in the chores of life while dealing with everyday stress normally while contributing to society. 

Mental Health Month raises awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities.

Disturbed mental health not only affects the mother but also the baby. Raising awareness, providing support, and encouraging open dialogue about maternal mental health are essential steps to ensuring the well-being of both mothers and their children. 

In this month's series, we shall take you through some of the social issues and environmental as well as sustainable solutions that help empower women and local communities. 

Let us look at how some of the feedback we received from our social media family as they explain what Maternal Mental Health Month is all about: 

Twitter 

@Uwerauganda -

"It refers to the mental health of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year after delivery."

Instagram

@_real_rizwana -

"Emotional turmoil regarding themselves and children." 

Facebook 

Hajj Munga - Environmentalist -

"Mental Health is all about our Psychology well-being where it consists of environmental mastery, positive relationships with others, self-acceptance, a feeling of purpose and meaning of life, personal growth and development and autonomy. This simply means it's co-dependence dimensions are environmental, social, physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and financial. Because if any one of these dimensions is neglected over time, it will adversely affect one's health, well-being, and quality of life."

  

BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

 In our last part to this chapter let us take a look at the benefits of volunteering. 

When you’re giving your time, skills and services, you deserve to get something back. Here are some of the benefits you receive when you volunteer:

1. Gaining New Skills

Whether you’re studying, starting a career, looking for work or trying to improve your promotion prospects, volunteering can be a great way to learn and develop the skills you need, both practically and personally. 

2. Networking 

You get to meet new people and make new connections. This in turn helps you grow your mindset and get out of your shell to be more open to different cultures and perceptions. 

3. Making a Positive Impact on the Environment

Volunteers can participate in events such as beach cleanups, tree plantation, and waste management initiatives that help reduce environmental pollution. These initiatives play a vital role in promoting sustainable development and preserving the natural environment.

4. Creating Corporate Social Responsibility 

Environmental volunteering offers an opportunity for corporations to meet their social or community service obligations. Volunteering is a great way for corporations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. 

5. Climate Change Mitigation 

Volunteers can participate in various programs that focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable living. These programs include waste management initiatives, tree plantation drives, and awareness campaigns. Through these initiatives, volunteers can make a significant impact on the environment and contribute to climate change mitigation.

6. Collaboration and Teamwork

Environmental volunteering often involves working in teams to complete tasks such as cleaning up beaches or planting trees. Working in teams allows individuals to develop collaboration and teamwork skills, which are essential for leadership roles. Learning how to work with others towards a common goal, while respecting each other’s perspectives, is an essential skill for any leader.

7. Critical Thinking 

Environmental volunteering provides opportunities to make decisions and solve problems in a real-world setting. These experiences can help individuals build confidence in their ability to analyze situations and make informed decisions, which are vital skills for any leader. Problem-solving skills can help leaders navigate complex challenges and develop innovative solutions.

8. Responsibility 

Environmental volunteering requires a high level of responsibility and accountability. Individuals must take ownership of their actions, be reliable, and follow through on commitments. These experiences can help develop leadership qualities such as responsibility, accountability, and dependability.

9. Saving the Ecosystem

Environmental conservation is not just about preserving the land itself – but also about protecting its inhabitants. 

Every individual has their own reason for volunteering and their own ideas about what it will do for them. The most important thing about volunteering is that you should enjoy it on your own terms and that it's a rewarding experience for you, as well as for the people, animals and environment you help.

Here's are some of the comments from our Instagram family: 

@rewireyourmindsetstrategy -

" It's all about giving back to the community. Sometimes volunteerism can mean funds or resources and sometimes money. Whatever one feels comfortable with." 

" Learned professionalism and love for country " 

@aisha_bagha -

" Learn new skills "

@_real_rizwana -

" It was required to volunteer for class; learned about mental and environmental health."

AVOCADO TREES

 Avocado Trees are also a part of our school and kitchen gardens in Kenya. They help provide many health, nutritious and economical benefits to the surrounding communities. 

Avocados may be medium to large trees but dwarf varieties exist for home growing. The trees have fragile limbs that are easily damaged by wind and the entire plant is very sensitive to cold conditions.

The avocado tree is evergreen with thick, leathery leaves and produces perfect white, ivory to yellow flowers. The fruit has a large seed or pit in the center and may be green or nearly black.

Avocado tree care must include deep, thorough watering when the growing season is in full swing.

Lets take a look at some of the benefits of planting avocado trees:

1. Nutritious

Avocados are an excellent source of monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, and are a good source of folate. They also supply more soluble fibre than other fruit and contain a number of useful minerals including iron, copper and potassium.

2. Support Heart Health

Avocados are high in fat with 60 per cent of this being monounsaturated fats, which research suggests helps to protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure. They are also an excellent source of potassium, folate and fibre, all of which benefit the heart and cardiovascular system.

3. Help Lower Cholesterol 

The oils supplied by avocado include oleic acid and linoleic acid. These unsaturated fats are recommended as part of a balanced diet to help manage cholesterol.

4. Supports Eye Health

Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals present in eye tissue. They provide antioxidant protection to help minimize damage, including from UV light.

The monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados also support the absorption of other beneficial fat-soluble antioxidants, such as beta carotene. As a result, adding avocados to the diet may help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

5. Improving digestion

Avocados are high in fiber. Eating foods with natural fiber can help prevent constipation, maintain digestive tract health, and lower the risk of colon cancer.

6. Antioxidants

Avocados are known to be high in antioxidants, but avocado leaves have even higher concentrations than the fruit. Avocado leaves have a compound called quercetin that removes free radicals from your body. Free radicals are the product of naturally-occurring degeneration in our bodies as a result of oxygenation. Antioxidants slow or even prevent this process from occurring, keeping our bodies healthier. In addition to quercetin, avocado leaves also contain polyphenols which are another group of powerful antioxidants.

7. Treat Asthma Symptoms

The phytochemical compounds in avocado leaves instill relaxation and calmness in many parts of the body and mind. This can result in easing headaches, muscle soreness, and even asthma. The tea can reduce the stiffness in the respiratory muscles that are causing uncomfortable asthma symptoms. Some holistic users of avocado tea recommend adding one tablespoon of salt per 3 cups of tea.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of planting Avocado trees as mentioned by our Instagram family: 

@aisha_bagha - 

"The fruit is a great source of nutrition" 

@zainab_akadir -

"Avocados are a good source of fat.. healthy fat which keeps your heart beating!"

@change_lives_africa -

"Great fruits with taste"