Foundation organises seminar for caregivers at Osu Children's Home
The Dora Awuah Foundation has taken another significant step in its mission to promote mental health awareness by organising a seminar for caregivers, social workers, and administrative staff of the Osu Children's Home last Thursday.
It aligns with the foundation’s long-term commitment to enhance the emotional and psychological well-being of orphans in residential care settings.
The foundation, a non-governmental organisation, is dedicated to reducing the burden of mental illness on individuals, families, and communities across Ghana.
Its mission is to advance mental health education, facilitate screenings, and improve access to psychosocial support, particularly among adolescents.
This is the second seminar hosted by the foundation at the Osu Children's Home this year.
Research highlights the critical role a caregiver’s mental health plays in shaping the psychological outcomes of the children they care for.
Recognising this, the seminar focused on educating caregivers and staff about depression, covering its risk factors, warning signs, and strategies for managing stressors to mitigate the risk of developing the condition.
About 40 people benefited from the seminar which was fully sponsored by the Dora Awuah Foundation through its benevolent donors.
Madam Dora Awuah, the founder of the foundation and a mental health practitioner, highlighted key warning signs of depression, including persistent sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and irritability lasting for at least two weeks.
Other signs include fatigue, poor concentration, and frequent frustration.
She stressed the importance of early recognition and proactive management to prevent long-term emotional distress.
The seminar, she said introduced the PERMA model—a positive psychology framework for coping with stress and fostering mental resilience.
”This focuses on positive emotions, engagement, relationships and accomplishments,” she stressed.
Madam Awuah appreciated all individuals who continued to fund the activities of the foundation.
She further encouraged corporate organisations to support the home in establishing annual awards for caregivers, emphasising that such recognition could enhance their morale and overall mental health.
She reiterated that when caregivers experience positive well-being, they are better positioned to provide compassionate and effective care for orphans in residential homes.
The foundation continues to advocate for the mental health of orphans in institutional care by equipping caregivers with knowledge on strategies to cope with daily stressors to foster resilience.
