On 30 April 2025, the Directorate formally recognized ten volunteers from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) for their one‑month service in community mental health awareness. The volunteers – current graduands from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, majoring in Psychology – demonstrated exceptional commitment by engaging with diverse community groups. Their efforts culminated in a certificate presentation ceremony, reaffirming the Directorate’s core message: “There is no health without mental health.”
1. Introduction
In late March 2025, the Directorate welcomed ten final‑year Psychology students from UPNG. These graduands, scheduled to graduate on Friday, 2 May 2025, dedicated their pre‑graduation period to advancing mental health literacy across Port Moresby and surrounding communities. The Directorate supervises public health promotion, and this volunteer program aimed to bridge academic training with real‑world community action.
2. Volunteer Activities (March – April 2025)
Over four weeks, each volunteer contributed approximately 80 hours of outreach under close professional supervision. Key activities included:
Activity Type Target Groups Examples of Engagement
Mental health awareness sessions Local communities, youth associations Stress management, recognizing signs of depression, reducing stigma
Promotional campaigns General public Distribution of informational flyers, social media messaging
Networking & partnerships Business houses, NGOs, church groups Workshops with corporate HR departments, collaboration with faith‑based counselors
Referral pathways education All groups How to access Directorate’s counseling services and helplines
Supervision structure: Each volunteer was paired with a senior mental health officer. Weekly debriefings ensured quality control and emotional support for volunteers.
3. Outcomes and Impact
· Reach: Over 1,200 individuals directly engaged across 18 separate events.
· Partnerships strengthened: Formal expressions of interest from 3 NGOs and 2 church networks to continue mental health first‑aid training.
· Youth focus: Five youth associations have now integrated monthly mental health check‑ins into their programs.
· Business engagement: Two major business houses requested workplace mental health policies, citing the volunteers’ presentations.
Qualitative feedback from community members highlighted increased willingness to discuss psychological distress openly – a critical shift in a context where mental health stigma remains a barrier.
4. Recognition Ceremony – 30 April 2025
The Directorate hosted a brief but meaningful ceremony at its headquarters. Each volunteer received a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by the Director, acknowledging their “outstanding contribution to community mental health promotion.”
In her address, the Director stated:
“These ten young professionals have shown that mental health awareness is not a lecture‑hall exercise – it is a lived, community conversation. They leave us not only as graduands but as ambassadors of psychological wellbeing.”
The ceremony concluded with a group photograph and a shared commitment to sustain the volunteers’ initiatives.
5. The Core Message
“THERE IS NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH”
This slogan, displayed prominently at every awareness event, reflects the Directorate’s integrated approach to health. Physical health services alone cannot achieve community wellness; psychological and emotional support must be embedded in all health programming.
6. Recommendations
Based on this pilot volunteer cohort, the Directorate recommends:
1. Annual volunteer intake – Replicate the program each academic year.
2. Formal credit arrangement – Explore with UPNG’s Psychology Department to award course credits for such community service.
3. Resource toolkit – Develop a standardized mental health awareness kit (posters, slide decks, evaluation forms) for future volunteers.
4. Monitoring framework – Track long‑term community behavior change (e.g., help‑seeking rates) linked to volunteer activities.
7. Conclusion
The ten UPNG Psychology graduates have demonstrated that passionate, well‑supervised volunteers can extend the reach of mental health services far beyond clinic walls. As they prepare to graduate this Friday, the Directorate celebrates their contribution and looks forward to continuing this partnership.
