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Kato's Story

Overcoming Stigma & Discrimination

In a secondary school in Kampala Uganda, 16-year-old Kato had always struggled to understand mental health. Raised in a community where mental illness was often misunderstood, Kato, like many of his peers, had internalized the idea that people facing mental health challenges were weak or dangerous. His view was one of fear and suspicion—until the day he attended a Social Contact Education session organized by Twogere in their school.


Kato was reluctant at first, unsure of what to expect, but everything changed during the session when a young woman named Esther, one of our mental health champions shared her journey. She spoke openly about living with depression, her struggles with isolation, and how she found the strength to seek help. As Esther spoke, Kato realized that his preconceived notions were far from the truth.


It felt like she was telling my story, even though I didn’t know her. She talked about things I had never heard of before—how mental health is just as important as physical health,” Kato shared. “I never understood mental illness. I thought it was something to be ashamed of, but now I know it’s okay to ask for help.


After the session, Kato's perception of mental health completely shifted. He began to view mental health challenges with empathy rather than fear. More importantly, he felt empowered to break the silence surrounding mental health in his school.


I’ve started talking to my friends about what I learned. I’m sharing Esther’s story with them because I want to change how we all think about mental health,” Kato said with a smile. “It’s not something to hide anymore. It’s something we need to talk about".


Thanks to the generosity of Twogere’s supporters, Kato's life has been transformed. He is now an advocate for mental health awareness, helping reduce stigma in his community, and spreading the message that mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness, but a part of life.

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