In October, the Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize Foundation, together with DALRO, held a specialized mental health workshop facilitated by Headroom, an organization dedicated to fostering mental well-being across diverse industries. Headroom provides tailored support to individuals and teams, with a particular focus on mental health within creative fields. Their programs address the unique pressures creatives face and equip them with tools to manage career-related stress, build resilience, and maintain a balanced approach to their work and lives.
This workshop was led by 3 facilitators, Ishe Alex Mudzamiri, a Social Sciences professional with a background in Social Work and a current master’s candidate in Public Health. Ishe’s work focuses on addressing stress, burnout, and other mental health challenges in various communities, which he brings into the creative context through workshops like these. Lijahne Beetge joined as a second speaker, contributing her experience across a range of wellness areas, including trauma counseling, mental health counseling, and employee wellness. Together, they guided attendees through strategies to navigate the complex intersection of mental health and artistic practice.
Ishe Alex Mudzamiri opened the workshop, bringing his extensive background in Social Sciences and community health. An Honours graduate in Social Work and a current Master’s candidate in Public Health, Ishe addressed critical issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and coping with change. His segment provided attendees with practical tools to manage these common struggles in their creative journeys. For more info email: isheza@gmail.com
The second speaker, Lijahne Beetge, is a wellness professional at Headroom with broad expertise in trauma counseling, mental health counseling, and employee wellness programs. Lijahne contributed valuable insights into recognizing mental health challenges and implementing effective self-care practices tailored to the specific pressures faced by creative individuals.
Murray is the Managing Director of Breathwork Africa and a Certified Breathwork Practitioner who has been working with conscious breathing for the last eight years. Having come from a corporate background, Marj has a passion for offering corporate talks and breathwork experiences that are grounded, scientific and support employee wellness. Working with children and their families is one of Marj’s specializations to empower families with impactful breathing practices to support focus, reduce anxiety, credit social cohesion, improve confidence, and have fun. Marj's session introduced practical techniques to enhance performance, self-regulate, and maintain balance. For more information on Breathwork Africa click here.
Together, these speakers created a well-rounded exploration of mental health tailored for the creative community. The workshop touched on fundamental themes, including self-doubt and imposter syndrome, financial insecurity, and the emotional highs and lows mapped in a creative's self-actualization curve. With this workshop, the BNAP Foundation, alongside DALRO, reaffirmed its mission to support artists holistically, ensuring mental wellness is an integral part of their journey to creative fulfillment.
