Ibrahim Sesay
The five Rotary Clubs in Sierra Leone on Saturday February 14 hosted the 3rd edition of their National Fun and Sports Event at the Prince of Wales Centenary Sports Complex in Kingtom, Freetown, using the platform to promote mental health awareness and celebrate friendship.
The event, organized by the Rotary Clubs of the Western Area and Bo, brought together members of the Rotary Club of Freetown, Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset, Rotary Club of Bo, Rotary Club of Hill Station, and Rotary Club of Freetown Peninsular under the theme: “Rotary Hearts Unite: Combatting Mental Health and Celebrating Friendship.”
Activities included football, tug-of-war, basketball, track events, board games, and a dance competition, following short messages centered on service and mental well-being.
Delivering the Object of Rotary, Rotarian (Rtn) Alison French emphasized that Rotary seeks to encourage and foster the ideal of service. She noted that the organization promotes the development of acquaintances as opportunities for service, upholds high ethical standards in business and professions, and recognizes the dignity of all useful occupations.
She added that Rotary encourages members to apply the ideal of service in their personal, business and community lives, while advancing international understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship among professionals united in service.
Chairman of the 2026 National Rotary Event, Rtn Abraham Grass-Sessay, said the gathering was not only about recreation but also about celebrating Rotary’s impact in communities.
“We are not only having fun, but also celebrating the work we do in our communities and the service we render,” he said.
Explaining the choice of theme, Grass-Sessay noted that health remains one of Rotary’s key pillars of intervention, with a growing focus on mental health at club level.
“As Rotarians, we promote awareness, provide safe spaces for conversation, support community programmes, partner with local organizations on mental health issues, and model compassion and empathy in our communities,” he said.
He also linked the event to Valentine’s Day, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate love and friendship among Rotarians and the wider community. He thanked members who turned out in large numbers despite their busy schedules and encouraged non-members to join Rotary.
“You don’t have to wait until all your needs are satisfied before you serve. The little you can give can make an impact in someone’s life,” he said, stressing Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self and its commitment to creating lasting impact.
Speaking on mental health, Rtn Dr. Carol Labor described it as a fundamental part of overall well-being, cautioning against the common misconception that mental health only refers to psychiatric conditions. “The definition of mental health is the overall state of our mind and the ability to cope with life’s regular stressors,” she explained.
Dr. Labor highlighted the biopsychosocial theory, noting that biological, psychological and social factors all influence a person’s mental health and risk of illness. She said Sierra Leone’s mental health foundations are deeply rooted in trauma, including intergenerational and historical experiences that predate the civil war.
She explained that trauma can have biological effects, including through epigenetics, where exposure to trauma may influence future generations. According to her, early childhood experiences, particularly between ages zero and ten, play a crucial role in brain development, and disruptions caused by trauma can have lasting consequences.
While commending ongoing national efforts to promote healing and rehabilitation, she stressed the importance of evidence-based practice in mental health interventions.
“People shouldn’t just engage in mental health-related work without using the appropriate methodology rooted in theory and evidence-based practice,” she said, calling on communities to embrace their history, understand the effects of trauma, and build resilience.
The event ended with friendly competitions and renewed calls for unity, service, and collective action to improve mental health awareness.
