Scouts in Malawi support mental wellbeing through Messengers of Peace
Thirty Scouts in Malawi have been trained to lead mental wellbeing activities, challenge stigma, and support young people through the “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” initiative. Scouts in Malawi are helping young people and communities speak more openly about mental wellbeing.
From 1 to 3 May 2026, 30 Scouts from the Southern Region of Malawi took part in a Messengers of Peace training on mental health, resilience, and community action. The training supports the “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” initiative, launched in early 2025 to create safe spaces for people to talk, seek support, and challenge stigma.
The initiative responds to a growing concern in Malawi. Data from the Malawi National Police Service showed that suicide cases rose from 92 in the first quarter of 2025 to 95 in the same period of 2026. Many cases affect young people. Young people in Malawi face pressures linked to unemployment, economic strain, school, relationships, limited family support, and climate-related challenges. In many communities, mental health is still treated as a taboo subject, which can stop people from asking for help.
Scouting in Malawi has also experienced this loss. Between 2022 and 2025, five Scouts died by suicide. Since the initiative began reaching more Scouts, no suicide cases have been recorded within the Scout community.
Training young people to lead change
The Messengers of Peace training prepared Scouts to become community champions for mental wellbeing. Participants explored how the Sustainable Development Goals connect to the challenges they see in their communities, with a focus on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing.
They also learned how to identify local needs, plan community projects, monitor progress, evaluate impact, and share their stories. For many participants, the training helped turn their existing community service experience into more structured action.
Breaking stigma in communities
The 30 trained Scouts will now take the initiative into villages, schools, and youth groups. They will lead awareness activities, encourage open conversations, and promote help-seeking behaviour. The initiative will also focus on reaching men and boys, who are often less likely to speak openly about mental wellbeing or seek support.
The expansion of “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” has been made possible through funding from the Messengers of Peace Fund, supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with World Scouting. This support is helping Scouts in Malawi move from awareness to action by training young people with the skills, confidence, and structure to lead mental wellbeing projects in their communities.