A three-day workshop took place at the Melanesian Hotel in Port Vila to emphasize the importance of mental health for students, particularly those still struggling with the psychological impact of the December 17 earthquake last year.

The workshop was a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, focusing on counseling techniques and the significance of mental well-being for students. School principals, teachers, and representatives from various schools attended the sessions.

Sylvia Boeson, Acting National Education Program Manager, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

“Some children are still fearful; they do not want to leave their parents because their minds and hearts are not at ease, making it difficult for them to attend school.”

Dr. Koen Sevenants, one of the workshop facilitators, underscored the need to teach children resilience.

“We need to learn to cope with bad things that happen in our lives. We need to teach children how to be resilient. Resilience here means how to overcome bad things that happen, and that is why we are training children to manage these challenges.”

One of the participants, John Labi Ephraim, Counselor at Central School, shared his perspective on the training.

“The training we underwent is not only for students but also to help families, communities, and the nation as a whole. We learned a lot, and we want to thank the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and UNICEF for organizing this workshop for over 70 participants.”

Today marks the final day of the workshop, which has aimed to equip education stakeholders with essential knowledge and skills to support students’ mental well-being.