Impact of Preventive Mental Health Programme on Social/Emotional Functioning and Resilience in Children in South Africa

The Inner Lion Programme is made up of 12 interactive workshops which are based on four key pillars: building confidence by identifying strengths and personal qualities; improving emotional intelligence and self-awareness; establishing adaptive coping strategies and channels of support; and boosting resilience. Professionally created by Child Psychologist Stijn de Leeuw together with an advisory team of psychologists from the Netherlands and South Africa, the programme follows a carefully structured and curated prevention and promotion mental health curriculum with games, crafting activities, psycho-educational stories, dance, movement, and breathing exercises. Workshops are led by local role models (a male-female duo) with lived experience trained to be mental health coaches.