After six months of dedicated engagement, the M&G Research team has officially concluded its impactful Mental Wellness Campaign at New Forest High School and Mowat Park High School a programme that has touched the lives of hundreds of learners, opening up conversations around emotional well-being, social support, and mental resilience in the school environment.
Throughout the campaign, the team facilitated a total of 20 interactive wellness sessions 9 sessions at New Forest and 11 sessions at Mowat Park High School. Each session aimed to equip learners with practical tools to manage stress, build self-esteem, and strengthen peer support networks. The initiative also provided a safe space for learners to voice their mental and social challenges, many of which often remain unspoken in academic settings.
Reflecting on the success of the campaign, Siboniso Malinga, one of the project leads, expressed pride in the outcomes achieved but emphasized that more work remains to be done.
“The campaign was a great success, however, there are still gaps that need to be addressed among high school learners. We hope to partner with more schools at an official capacity and assist learners from different backgrounds,” Malinga shared.
The campaign’s findings underscored both progress and challenges highlighting a growing awareness of mental health among learners but also revealing the continued need for structured psychosocial support within schools.
Looking ahead, the M&G Research team is preparing a comprehensive evaluation report for both schools. The report will provide actionable insights to help principals, educators, and school counsellors address identified mental health and social gaps. Through evidence-based recommendations, it will propose practical strategies to enhance learner well-being, improve classroom focus, and foster a more supportive learning environment.
The M&G Research team reaffirmed its commitment to advancing mental wellness in education and stated that,
“Supporting the mental health of young people is foundational to academic excellence and holistic development. By understanding their challenges from both mental and social perspectives, we can help schools create spaces where learners thrive not just academically, but emotionally and socially.”
The conclusion of this campaign marks not an end, but a beginning a call for broader collaboration between schools, communities, and research partners to sustain the momentum of mental wellness advocacy across South African schools.
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