Youth leader turns pain into healing space

Penomwaameni Natangwe (23) is using her experience with mental illness to lead national initiatives, promote mental health awareness, and establish a youth-focused recovery clinic at Eenhana.

She says she’s not only sharing her own story, but also building systems to empower others. 

Now a clinical psychology student, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner and mental health activist, Natangwe says she is using her voice and vision to create free and safe spaces for young Namibians to confront and heal their emotional pain.  

Natangwe says she grew up in Windhoek and Ondobe in the Ohangwena region and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type II as a teenager. 

She says she has experienced decades of confusion, self-conflict, and cultural silence on mental illness. 

“And worst of all, nowhere to talk about it for fear of judgement.”
Natangwe says she was just 18 when she published her first book, titled ‘Good Life Problem’ – the story of her life with mental illness. 

“It was a weird and courageous thing to do in a nation where mental health is still so stigmatised, particularly for young people. 
“That book was therapy for me,” she says. 

“It was a message to other people as well: You are not alone.”

Natangwe has since initiated several projects, reaching out to young people to end the silence about mental health. 

At 19, she started a project called ‘Unlock Success’ on the theme of job provision, especially among the youth.

“I had hoped that we would be ready to work in the government, but, unfortunately the government cannot offer many of the people in the industries jobs.

“As a Namibian citizen, I am pleased to say I cannot sit and wait for the call for the interview because any of the disappointment that can happen.”

Natangwe launched her ‘Mental Health Awareness Namibia’ initiative last year. 

Its purpose was to educate, sensitise and screen the country’s youth for mental health illness.

Earlier this year, she also launched InnerVerse Academy, an online community to empower young people with mental health coping mechanisms, stress resilience, and peer support groups.

Natangwe says she believes in the inclusion of mental health education at schools and workplaces, and that the government should invest more in the well-being of young people. 

“We need to make conversations normal and give them a space where they feel comfortable talking” she says. 

Natangwe is now pioneering a semi-private mental health practice at Eenhana – one of the regions in the country with very low access to mental health services. 

Due to open next month, she says the practice will offer outpatient therapy to teenagers and adults with anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. 

“No one will be turned away because of a lack of funds,” she says. 
“This is an issue of human dignity.”

One of the staff members is a qualified psychiatrist, so patients can access psychological counselling, as well as psychiatric medication.

Natangwe says fundraising is underway to expand the practice into a rehabilitation centre.

“This isn’t just a career for me. It’s a calling,” she says. 

“My community has suffered in silence for too long. I’m here to break that silence.” 
Natangwe also views her activism as part of a larger trend among young people to support the country’s collective healing and growth. 
“They’re no longer waiting,” she says. 

“We’re building the Namibia we want. We’re no longer speaking, we’re acting.”

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