Location
ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ (Vientiane Capital)
Ekasith Vanmany (Ek)
WELL Laos promotes youth mental health through practical workshops, school outreach, and the development of youth wellness mentors. The…
About the project
WELL Laos promotes youth mental health through practical workshops, school outreach, and the development of youth wellness mentors. The project also uses creative activities, including a mental health poster design contest, to encourage young people to talk about and support mental wellbeing.
Project objective
- Increasing awareness of mental health among young people in Lao PDR
- Many youth continue to face challenges discussing emotional well-being openly due to stigma and limited understanding
- Youth-friendly spaces for peer discussion and emotional support remain important
- Early awareness and prevention initiatives can help encourage healthy coping and help-seeking behaviors
- Schools, families, communities, and institutions all play an important role in supporting youth well-being
Key achievements
- Reached more than 2,200 young people through awareness and engagement activities
- Conducted workshops and peer-learning activities involving over 400 participants
- Developed a network of 19 Wellness Mentors supporting youth engagement initiatives
- Expanded both in-person and digital outreach activities for youth mental health awareness
The problem
- WELL - BECAUSE YOU MATTER IS A YOUTH-LED INITIATIVE THAT PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND WELL-BEING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN LAO PDR.
- WELL focuses on:
- Mental health awareness and psychoeducation
- Youth engagement and peer learning
- Safe spaces for discussion and emotional support
- Prevention-focused and community-based initiatives
Activities
- 2023 Participated in the UNICEF Youth Champions Laos initiative
- 2024 Conducted youth-led cascade trainings on Youth Champions
- 2025 Secured seed funding to support WELL initiatives and formally established WELL-Because You Matter
- 2026 Expanded project activities and strengthened partnerships with additional supporting organizations
Future plan
- Continue promoting youth mental health awareness and well-being
- Expand youth engagement and peer-learning initiatives
- Strengthen mental health literacy among young people
- Develop safe and supportive spaces for youth discussion
- Continue learning from experts and relevant stakeholders to support responsible implementation
Implementation gallery
1 / 3 · WELL Laos
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