Mental health focuses on the individual’s well-being: our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, and our understanding of the world around us. A mental disorder or illness affects the way people think, feel, behave or interact with others. Many different mental illnesses can have different symptoms that impact people’s lives in different ways. Mental health problems and substance use disorders sometimes occur together, this is because certain illegal drugs can cause people with an addiction to experience one or more symptoms of mental health problems. Mental health problems can sometimes lead to alcohol or drug use, as some people may misuse these substances as a form of self-medication, and a coping mechanism with severe underlying causes, including changes in brain composition, genetic vulnerabilities, and early exposure to stress or trauma.

The UP COPC project – COSUP, held a harm reduction and mental health awareness event which took place on the 26th of May 2021 from 11h00 to 13h00, at Laudium Emerald Street Community Park. Key aspects included; COSUP service awareness and harm reduction, mental health awareness among people who use drugs and the community as a whole, and creating a working relationship with other stakeholders. Present on the day were prominent keynote speakers; Pastor Sanker Moodley - pastoral and spiritual advisor, Sister Linda Malaka (SANPUD health promoter) - SANPUD (South African Network of People Who Use Drugs) - overview of the organization and services offered, Sargent Simon Chokoe (SAPS Official) - legal implications of drug abuse, Lethabo Poo (Clinical Psychologist) - Laudium Mental Health Clinic (Psychological effects of drugs), Abdul Cassim (COSUP Laudium beneficiary) - reformed substance user to share personal experience, and Maureen Sithole (COSUP Clinical Associate) - COSUP Laudium, to give an overview of the organization and services offered.

The overall outcome of the event was a success, all prominent keynote speakers were present and managed to share in-depth info about their organizations. Representatives from Laudium High School, WITS RHI and Laudium Himalaya High School, and Laudium Sun Newspaper were present for interviews and captured visual details of the event. The initial plan for the event was to have a few individual COSUP clients share their experience or background about their success story with the community, however the event had more COSUP clients than anticipated, who were more than happy to share their success stories. With this event, a platform was created to connect, partner, and build a relationship with other stakeholders around Laudium, some stakeholders suggested that COSUP should hold an event every month to create more awareness around mental health issues, substance use, and harm reduction.