Vodafone Qatar marked World Mental Health Day 2018 by engaging the community in the company’s long-running programme, AmanTECH, designed to equip children and parents with the right tools to navigate the digital world safely.
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. The topic for this year is ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World’.
Qatar National Library played host to a series of events this weekend that raised awareness about mental health issues that were organised in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior, Primary Health Care Corporation and
Vodafone Qatar.
AmanTECH’s booth engaged many children and parents with a number of activities that required them to perform tasks related to safety online in which they learnt specific skills, including identifying fake vs real news, safe online gaming, self-image and reputation online, Vodafone Qatar said in a statement.
Vodafone Qatar brand ambassador and Al Rayyan TV presenter Saoud al-Maadeed participated in the fake news activity and discussed with the children whether or not they should believe everything they hear or see online and how it is important to look into an article or a video’s authenticity before sharing it.
“The expanding use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring significant pressures that have a direct effect on young peoples’ mental health. We know from our work in the field of digital safety that children in Qatar spend a considerable amount of time online, many of whom are being exposed to cyber bullying, negative self-image and negative influences. It is therefore vital that parents are equipped with the right understanding for how to keep their children safe in the digital world and to have an open dialogue with their children about these
matters,” Vodafone Qatar said.
“Since AmanTECH’s launch in 2014, we have actively engaged children on the topic of online safety at public events and with fun and interactive workshops held at their schools. This has been incredibly successful and we are committed to continue working to ensure children are given the opportunity to make the most of communication technologies for their development while also instilling healthy and safe online habits,” it added.
The AmanTECH programme includes ongoing workshops, an online source for information and tips for parents accessible at www.vodafone.qa/AmanTECH
