In response to the rise in psychological distress in schools, particularly in the Bounkiling department (Sédhiou region), awareness-raising workshops are being held in the municipalities of Bounkiling and Médina Wandifa. The aim is to equip the population, and especially women's groups in both municipalities, with preventative mental health techniques.

Thierno Diop, president of the student government at Bounkiling High School, gave a poignant account of the generational divide, explaining that students live in fear of their parents, preferring to confide their worries to their teachers rather than their families. He therefore called for a resumption of dialogue to break the emotional isolation of young people. Thanks to the discussions initiated, he says he is now better able to manage his emotions and cope with his personal difficulties.

Abdoulaye Coly, a consulting psychologist and director of the CAOSP (Center for Academic and Social Support) in Sédhiou, emphasizes that mental health is a shared responsibility between the school and the community. He explains that current communication is often limited to orders or threats, which is detrimental to children's well-being. Therefore, throughout the discussions he has facilitated on understanding the signs of depression, managing emotions, and adopting a resilient approach, he advocates for attentive listening and approximately three hours of quality conversation per day between parents and children to establish a climate of trust.

For Chérif Diao, head of the Enda Jeunesse Action project in Bounkiling, the goal is to transform women's groups into true agents of prevention. According to him, this will involve training these women, as well as local authorities, in positive mental health and stress management. He believes the role of mothers is paramount, as they are the most involved in raising children. "Women must become community liaisons to facilitate communication between mothers and children, and fathers and children," he emphasized.

The chief magistrate of the commune of Medina Wandifa, for his part, reiterated that the primary mission of parents is to build the child's confidence in order to guarantee optimal study conditions.