PHNOM PENH: Rith Boris is a young and ambitious student who observed that mental issues between students are not being properly discussed, especially in light of the pandemic. He decided to act and create “Mind Switch”. It’s an online platform aimed at helping teenagers and young adults cope with their mental health, without being afraid to speak about it.
Mental issues in Cambodia come in many forms. Trauma from war or family tragedy. The sheer exhaustion of those living in poverty. On top of that, the fast-pacing world of modernization can also create disconnections between generations, especially for students. The youth often suffer, not just with depressive thoughts, but also with anxiety, body issues as well as pressures from studies, careers and now, the added stress associated with the pandemic.
Rith Boris took the initiative and created the online platform “Mind Switch”, to help students see mental health without stigma, as an important part of a balanced life. Rith spoke to EAC News about his project, which was one of 13 mentorship projects selected by UNICEF from 150 applicants:
“Actually, Mind Switch project is under a program called “Generation Future” that the program manager, her name is Lindsey and under the UNICEF Cambodia. The project started from August until the end of November. I will share all the videos and actions from social media to all the audience here. We also try to demonstrate our project to the audience specially to teenagers of the age between 14 to 25 on the “World Children Day”, which will happen on 16 November”.
He says the inspiration for “Mind Switch” came from his own experiences with mental health:
“Less than a year ago, I was a person who burned out myself, lost passion and couldn’t find myself and I think is a really serious problem to heal it out. I want all teenagers and all the youth who hadn’t face yet, to avoid the problem. Besides that, we have another mental health issues in Cambodia, is not only for depression or loosing passion or burn out, we have trauma or other things that specially teenagers need to be aware of that. I have experienced and I have walked on that path, so I want others to avoid and not repeat the same mistakes like me.”
“Mind Switch” is also aimed at helping the youth fully understand the benefits of good mental health:
“I went to the riverside and I did a survey to 10 teenagers and I asked them: What do you think of mental health in Cambodia? What came into your mind when we talk about mental health? And 80% of them said mental health is about depression, commit suicide and that’s all. They don’t know anything more. They say is kind of something funny to talk, but is actually not.”
He finished up with us with a special word for all students in Cambodia:
“A quick message from me, from us of Mind Switch to everyone, specially to teenagers: mental health is not just depressive or anxiety, but everything we are thinking is all about mental health. For example, if you want to do anything with a good result, you need to have a good mental health also. So, don’t be thinking in a negative way. Switch your mind to do a positive thinking. Because if you have a positive thinking on your mindset, everything will be possible in the future. Thank you so much”.
Mind Switch can be found on Facebook, while UNIFEC has created a group called “We are Generation Future” on the same social platform. It provides students with free educational resources, online training and professional support for personal development.
