An all-women’s counselling Non-Government Organi­zation was launched in the heart of the Sugar City on Friday.

Mending Minds Foundation (MMF), founded in November last year, has been operational from June this year.

The official launch was led by founder and executive director, Prem Singh, at the Tanoa Water­front Hotel, Lautoka.

MMF specialises in providing mental health and psychosocial support services inclusive of spe­cialised services.

The team of five qualified counsel­lors and social workers are dedicat­ed to help build communities that are aware of what mental health is all about.

Speaking at Friday’s launch, Ms Singh said it was okay for people to accept the fact that they endured mental health struggles.

Ms Singh said there was a stigma attached to mental health for hun­dreds of years now.

“It has long been the case that in­dividuals with mental health condi­tions are among the most abused and most discriminated against, this is not just a small issue for a very small group of people,” she said.

“One in five individuals experi­ence mental health condition.

“The main focus of MMF is provi­sion of psychosocial support which means that we provide not only face to face counselling sessions and so­cial interventions.”

Chief guest at the launch, retired medical expert, Dr Rajat Gyanesh­war advised participants to be con­tent with what they had.

“Counselling services, social work services, mental health services are really designed to get us to ap­preciate what is the root cause of suffering and the root cause of suf­fering is our approach and attitude to life,” said Dr Gyaneshwar.

“Don’t be attached to what you have because even your lives are temporary.”

Story By: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj