This world Mental Health Day we are excited to share our Take 5 Guided Audio Meditations for children with the world! World Mental Health Day 2023 is a global initiative uniting communities in creating awareness, understanding, and support for mental well-being. This year, the focus is on promoting mental health equity, ensuring access to vital resources, and creating a compassionate world where mental health is a universal priority – available for all.

In a world battling unprecedented challenges, the mental health of our youngest generation has become a paramount concern. In a recent study conducted by child psychiatry experts, alarming levels of anxiety and stress were identified among children, especially those in economically disadvantaged contexts. The implications of these findings are stark: untreated childhood trauma and stress can manifest into lifelong mental health challenges. At Earthchild Project, we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact that stress can have on the mental well-being of children in underprivileged communities. In our beloved communities of Lavender Hill and Khayelitsha, where Earthchild Project has been a presence for 15 years, the challenges are not just statistics – they are the stories on the faces of our children, reflecting the resilience amidst adversity.

In response to this urgent need, we launched the Earthchild Project Take5 Guided Audio Meditations for World Mental Health Month 2021 – a series of three simple, guided audio meditations available in Afrikaans, English, and Xhosa. Developed in collaboration with educators, mental health experts, and our dedicated team, these meditations were designed to be easily accessible. They can be used in classrooms, at home, or in group sessions, providing a grounding practice for children to navigate anxiety, fear, and trauma.

Our Take5 Meditations are more than just a response to a crisis; they are a testament to the power of collective action. Available for free, these meditations can be accessed through our website, YouTube channel, or by reaching out to us directly via WhatsApp. Our vision is simple yet profound: to make these resources a part of a broader initiative, a movement that prioritizes the mental well-being of our youngest generation.

This World Mental Health Day, we acknowledge that the power to create change lies within each of us. Share our Take5 Meditations far and wide so that we can let every child know that amidst the chaos, there is a moment of stillness, a breath of calm. 

You can access the Take5 Guided Audio Meditations, and the instruction audio track on our website www.earthchildproject.org/resources on YouTube https://earthchildproject.org/resources/knowledgebase/take-5-guided-relaxation-for-children/, and through a direct request via Whatsapp on +27 82 849 8230. The audio meditations are downloaded along with an instruction video on how to facilitate the Take 5 meditations.