Growing up can be an exciting time, but it can also bring challenges that are not always easy to see. Young people may experience academic pressure, changes in friendships and relationships, family difficulties, bullying, social expectations, uncertainty about the future and other personal challenges. While many young people navigate these experiences with support, others may struggle quietly without knowing how to express what they are going through or where to turn. This is why creating awareness and making support accessible are important parts of building healthier communities. At Olga Foundation, our work is centred on suicide prevention and awareness, with a particular focus on young people of school-going age. We seek to help identify those experiencing mental health difficulties, teenage pressures and anxieties, and connect them with appropriate support.
Not every struggle is visible
One of the challenges in supporting young people is that emotional distress does not always look the way we expect. A young person who is struggling may become withdrawn, experience changes in their behaviour or relationships, lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed, or have difficulty coping with everyday responsibilities. Others may continue with their normal routines while keeping their difficulties to themselves. This is why awareness matters. Understanding that people respond differently to difficult circumstances can encourage parents, teachers, friends, community members and other trusted adults to pay attention to changes and create opportunities for young people to talk. It is not about diagnosing someone based on a change in behaviour. It is about being willing to notice, listen and respond with care.
The importance of listening
Sometimes the first step towards supporting someone is simply creating a safe opportunity for them to speak. Young people need spaces where they can express concerns without immediately feeling judged, dismissed or misunderstood. A conversation may not solve every problem, but being listened to can help someone recognise that they do not have to carry everything alone. Listening also means taking concerns seriously. When a young person shares that they are struggling, it is important to respond calmly and compassionately. Where professional support is needed, families and communities should encourage the young person to connect with appropriate health, counselling or other support services. Community members do not need to have all the answers. What matters is knowing when to listen, when to encourage help-seeking and when to connect someone with people who are equipped to provide further support.
Building awareness around suicide prevention
Suicide prevention requires more than one conversation. It requires communities to develop knowledge, reduce harmful stigma and make it easier for people at risk to seek appropriate help. Olga Foundation’s work includes developing broad-based community support for suicide awareness, increasing understanding of risk factors, supporting people to recognise and help those who may be at risk, and providing resources and training opportunities for communities. These efforts are important because prevention is a shared responsibility. Schools, families, community organisations, health professionals, educators and other stakeholders can each contribute in different ways. When people understand the importance of early support and know where to seek appropriate assistance, communities can become better equipped to respond to people who may be struggling.
Young people need supportive communities
A young person’s wellbeing is influenced by the environment around them. Supportive families can provide a sense of belonging. Schools can create environments where students feel safe to raise concerns. Friends can offer companionship and encouragement. Community organisations can provide awareness, resources and connections to appropriate services. No single person or organisation can address every challenge. Collaboration is therefore essential. Olga Foundation was established in memory of Olga Tinashe Zishiri following her sudden and unexpected passing in 2020. Her family, friends and companions came together to establish an organisation inspired by her wish to extend an act of kindness to someone on her birthday, 15 July. The Foundation’s work grew from this desire to create meaningful support for people experiencing difficult life transitions. That spirit of kindness continues to inform the Foundation’s work.
Creating pathways to appropriate help
Awareness is most meaningful when it leads to action. For someone experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties, knowing that help exists is important, but knowing how to access that help can be equally important. Communities can play a role by sharing reliable information and helping people identify appropriate sources of support. This is particularly important for young people, who may not always know how to communicate what they are experiencing or how to find assistance. The role of Olga Foundation is not to replace professional healthcare or counselling services. Rather, its work contributes to awareness, community understanding, education and connections to appropriate help. A community where people can speak up
Preventing suicide and promoting wellbeing is a long-term effort.
It involves creating communities where people are encouraged to talk about difficulties, where concerns are taken seriously and where seeking help is treated as an important step rather than something to be ashamed of. For young people especially, early support can matter. A conversation today can create an opportunity for someone to receive the appropriate help they need. Every one of us can contribute to a more supportive environment. We can listen without judgement. We can learn about mental health and suicide prevention. We can pay attention to those around us. We can share reliable information. And when someone needs more help than we can provide, we can encourage them to connect with appropriate professional and support services.
At Olga Foundation, we believe that healthier communities are built through awareness, compassion, education and collective action. Our work is inspired by the belief that people should not have to face difficult moments in isolation. By working together, we can strengthen community support, encourage help-seeking and create greater awareness around suicide prevention, particularly among young people. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or may be at immediate risk of harm, seek urgent assistance from appropriate emergency or professional services.