By Foday Moriba Conteh

Sierra Leonean Hollywood Afrobeat artist, humanitarian and cultural ambassador, Neneh Ada Koroma popularly known as Queen Nack has emphasized the urgent need for nationwide mental-health awareness and youth empowerment. She made the remarks on Saturday, 8th November 2025, during a one-day Mental Health & Wellness Kids Workshop organized by the Queennak Foundation at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown. The event forms part of the Foundation’s national wellness tour aimed at promoting harmony, kindness and a healthy mindset among Sierra Leonean children and youth.

Speaking to journalists, Queen Nack introduced herself as both an artist and an international facilitator who connects investment opportunities between Sierra Leone, Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

She explained that the event was initially arranged because the children she supports wanted to officially welcome her back home. Instead of limiting the occasion to a simple welcome ceremony, she seized the opportunity to deliver a meaningful mental-health and wellness training session.

The workshop, according to her, involved practical activities such as games, group exercises, mentoring sessions and confidence-building exercises designed to uplift the children and make them feel valued. Participants received certificates and were proudly appointed as Mental Health & Wellness Ambassadors under the Queennak Foundation’s new community-based programme.

Queen Nack explained that her decision to bring the mental-health campaign to Sierra Leone stemmed from troubling scenes she has witnessed in the United States, where disturbing videos, graphic images and news of hardship among Sierra Leoneans abroad highlight deep emotional trauma. She noted that similar challenges; drug abuse, social-media bullying, online conflicts, and lack of positive role models are also affecting young people back home.

“Mental health is the root cause of many good and bad actions people take,” she said, stressing that when young people are mentally healthy, they are less likely to fall into destructive behavior. She expressed deep concern about the rise of harmful social-media culture, where youths “pull each other down” instead of building each other up. According to her, this troubling trend threatens Sierra Leone’s future because the youth are the next generation of leaders.

Queen Nack called on all Sierra Leoneans, especially community leaders, entertainers, influencers, and the media, to join her as the Foundation prepares to roll out a 16-district national mental-health and wellness tour. She revealed that professional soccer players from the United States will join the campaign in December, organizing football tournaments in each district as a fun and empowering way to engage communities, motivate young people and promote positive mental-health practices.

She emphasized that empowerment must be enjoyable and relatable: “We want to make this more fun, lively and empowering, because the youth need to know that even though we left this country and struggle abroad, they are the ones who must hold Sierra Leone with both hands and do better for themselves and the nation.”

Queen Nack clarified that although the Bintumani event included children, many of whom she personally supports, the workshop was originally intended as a strategic engagement with media practitioners to discuss the national “pandemic” of drug abuse and social-media negativity. However, she gladly welcomed the children’s wish to meet her and integrated them into the programme.

She added that supporting children has always been part of her personal mission, a passion she shares with her son. The two have long been involved in charity work and community empowerment both in Sierra Leone and abroad. She disclosed that their current visit was kept secret from her son’s father so they could freely spend six months in Sierra Leone focusing entirely on community healing, youth empowerment and national development.

Responding to questions about whether she plans to perform or host entertainment events during her visit, Queen Nack said she is open to it but made it clear that her primary purpose is mental-health advocacy and national healing. She hinted at leveraging her global connections, including partnerships within the Chinese investor community, to support Sierra Leone’s development goals.

“Why should we continue suffering abroad when we can come home and build our own nation?” she asked passionately. She emphasized that her heart aches whenever she sees Sierra Leone struggling and she believes her calling at this moment is to help “heal the country” in whatever way she can.

Queen Nack concluded by pledging her full dedication to the national mental-health and wellness tour and reaffirmed her desire to work with all stakeholders, entertainers, sports icons and community leaders to uplift Sierra Leone’s youth and strengthen national unity. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/queennak-foundation-hosts-mental-health-wellness-workshop-for-kids-calls-for-nationwide-youth-support/