The interview for funding and authorization
The interview was conducted at the office of the Mayor on a Thursday afternoon on the topic of funding for the construction of a resource/rehabilitation center for teenagers and adolescents struggling with mental diseases. Many teenagers and adolescents are struggling with mental diseases such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Mental diseases are not recognized as diseases and so it becomes challenging for them to seek the required help. Setting up a center where the target group can have mental support groups from counselors and meet-ups with fellow age mates fighting the same battles would help ease the statistics of the mental disorders ratings among the teenagers and adolescents.
The Mayor's support and involvement
The interview targeted the Mayor of the city so as to get the necessary funding and authorization of its construction for the good of the local community. The Mayor was quite receptive of the idea and supportive and offered to be at the forefront spearheading the project citing that he had heard concerns from the health sector about the increase of suicide attempts and suicide deaths among the teenagers and adolescents. The Mayor also embraced the idea in line with the World Mental Awareness month of May.
Main issues discussed
The main issues discussed were the suitable site of the center, funding cum estimated the cost of the center and the resources required for an effective center. The Mayor suggested having the center in the main school district so that the center could be accessible to most of the students while still being in the vicinity of their schools. It would be accessible during and after school hours. The center would also be open during the weekends and public holidays in case of emergencies.
Funding and fundraising
On the issue of funding, the Mayor agreed to allocate some of the money his office receives for community projects to this particular project. He also suggested that he would rally his fellow statesmen and people in leadership to contribute towards this noble venture. It was also agreed that there would be a fundraiser towards the same to be held in a month's time. The main invites would be the charity organizations whose ideas are channeled towards mental disease awareness and the local celebrities that have come out in the open as having struggled with mental illnesses. The Mayor challenged me to set up a committee to organize and implement all the suggestions and to follow-up the project with his office. The mayor also consulted the city's accountant to give a projection of the estimated cost. This would be tabled and discussed in the consequent meetings.
Services and creative avenues
The Mayor agreed to have a memo sent out by his secretary of health to the local health facilities and to private practicing counselors and psychiatrists to offer their services at the center. The services would be offered on a voluntary basis. The teenagers and adolescents who seek help will not be charged so as to encourage seeking medical help. The center would also house a library and an arts theatre so as to encourage the target audience to have creative avenues of channeling their time and energy.
The government's commitment to youth
The interview was quite educative and was an eye-opener as to how much the government is willing to help the youth so as to have a healthy generation when they take up leadership.
