Felicia Goosen Named Finalist in 2025 African Health Excellence Awards
- Felicia Goosen
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as a Finalist in the Employee Wellness – Healthcare Professional category at the 2025 African Health Excellence Awards.
This recognition is incredibly humbling. It acknowledges work I am deeply passionate about — promoting wellness, resilience, and holistic health for those who work tirelessly to support young people. To be named among such inspiring professionals from across the continent is a privilege I don’t take lightly.
But beyond the personal milestone, this moment presents an important opportunity to spotlight something often overlooked in discussions around youth well-being: the wellness of the people who care for them.
Taking Care of the Carer: Why Employee Wellness is important for Youth Mental Health
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup
Across the continent — and the world — professionals and frontline workers are showing up daily for children and youth, often in emotionally demanding, under-resourced environments. These individuals include social workers, counselors, healthcare staff, teachers, community outreach teams, ministry leaders, life coaches and many more.
Their work is critical. They are not just providing services; they are building trust, holding safe spaces, and walking alongside young people through some of their most vulnerable moments.
But who is taking care of them?
Burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and chronic stress are real risks for anyone working directly with vulnerable youth. When left unaddressed, these factors not only impact the health of the individual employee but also affect the quality, consistency, and sustainability of the support they can offer.
Wellness is a Systemic Priority, Not a Personal Luxury.
Employee wellness isn't just a checkbox or a workplace perk. It must be embedded into the DNA of how youth-serving organizations operate. That means moving beyond isolated wellness days or generic self-care advice and into intentional strategies that create environments of care.
Some key elements of this include:
Psychologically safe workplaces where staff feel seen, heard, and supported.
Regular opportunities for reflective practice and supervision.
Access to mental health support tailored for frontline care workers.
Workload management that protects against burnout.
Leadership that models and prioritizes holistic wellness at every level.
"When we take care of the carer, we build stronger, more resilient systems of care for young people."
A Collective Responsibility
Youth mental health and wellness can only be sustained if the people supporting them are also well.
I am grateful to the African Health Excellence Awards team for this incredible recognition, and I celebrate all the other finalists — each of whom is driving meaningful change in our communities.
As we continue the work of healing and supporting the next generation, let’s not forget to extend the same care to those on the frontlines. Their wellness is not a side note — it's the foundation.
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