By Kisembo Immaculate | Mental and Physical Health | December 04, 2025
Dear young people, you play a vital role in our future. Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, reminds us that “our bodies are gifts from God, and caring for them is an essential part of caring for creation.” This message is especially relevant during the holidays, when you may have more free time and less structure, which can present new challenges. I would like to offer some suggestions on how you can care for your mental and physical health as an important part of caring for God’s creation, beginning with yourselves.
1. Your Body Is God’s Creation: Protect It
Our bodies are not accidents; they are masterpieces created by God. St. Paul teaches, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19). Caring for your physical health is not only a personal choice but also a responsibility.
Healthy Choices Youth Should Prioritise During Holidays
• Eat balanced meals instead of relying on junk food.
• Engage in sports, exercise, or community work to stay active.
• Ensure sufficient sleep and rest for proper physical development.
• Stay hydrated, especially in the upcoming hot tropical climate.
• Avoid drugs, alcohol, and smoking. These harm your body, weaken your mental health, and jeopardize your future.
• Eat balanced meals instead of relying on junk food.
• Engage in sports, exercise, or community work to stay active.
• Ensure sufficient sleep and rest for proper physical development.
• Stay hydrated, especially in the upcoming hot tropical climate.
• Avoid drugs, alcohol, and smoking. These harm your body, weaken your mental health, and jeopardize your future.
Uganda is experiencing a rise in alcohol and substance abuse among young people, especially during long holidays. By protecting your body, you safeguard your future and honor God.
2. Mental Health Matters: Care for Your Inner Self Too
Many young people face depression, anxiety, peer and family pressure, environmental stress, and sometimes trauma. These mental health challenges can impact education, relationships, and self-esteem.
Taking care of your mental health is important because your mind is also part of God’s creation.
Practical ways to protect your mental health as a young person
• Surround yourself with positive, supportive friends.
• Limit social media consumption, which often brings comparison and pressure.
• Talk to a trusted adult, counsellor, religious leader, or mentor when stressed.
• Practise prayer, meditation, journaling, and mindfulness.
• Participate in youth groups such as Laudato Youth and church programs that offer peer support and build resilience.
• Surround yourself with positive, supportive friends.
• Limit social media consumption, which often brings comparison and pressure.
• Talk to a trusted adult, counsellor, religious leader, or mentor when stressed.
• Practise prayer, meditation, journaling, and mindfulness.
• Participate in youth groups such as Laudato Youth and church programs that offer peer support and build resilience.
• Avoid toxic relationships and harmful peer influence.
Neglecting your mental health can lead to risky behaviours, including substance abuse, early pregnancy, violence, truancy, and crime.
3. Avoid Harmful Behaviour: It Hurts You and Those Around You
The holidays can expose young people to activities that harm both themselves and the wider community:
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Early sexual activity and teenage pregnancies
• Gambling and betting addictions
• Violence, crime, theft, and vandalism
• Excessive partying or night outings
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Early sexual activity and teenage pregnancies
• Gambling and betting addictions
• Violence, crime, theft, and vandalism
• Excessive partying or night outings
These actions harm your body and mind, hurt families, damage communities, and undermine societal values.
Young people are called to bring hope, not fall into harmful influences.
4. Caring for Yourself Is Part of Caring for Creation
When the Church speaks of caring for creation, it refers not only to rivers, forests, and animals. Human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, are the most precious part of creation.
A young person who is physically healthy, mentally balanced, and spiritually grounded can contribute meaningfully to society and help protect the environment.
A young person who is physically healthy, mentally balanced, and spiritually grounded can contribute meaningfully to society and help protect the environment.
How Personal Health Connects to Environmental Care
• A healthy mind makes responsible choices about waste, resources, and nature.
• Healthy young people are more likely to participate in community cleanups, tree planting, and environmental projects.
• Personal discipline encourages responsible care for God’s creation.
• A healthy mind makes responsible choices about waste, resources, and nature.
• Healthy young people are more likely to participate in community cleanups, tree planting, and environmental projects.
• Personal discipline encourages responsible care for God’s creation.
You cannot care for the Earth if you ignore the health of your own body and mind.
5. Use Holidays for Growth, Not Harm
The holiday period is an opportunity to:
• Learning new skills (farming, ICT, innovation, crafts).
• Reading books and broadening knowledge.
• Volunteering in church, parish groups, or community projects.
• Helping parents with chores and responsibilities.
• Strengthening spiritual life by attending Mass, retreats, and prayer gatherings.
• Participate in youth programs such as prayers, family gatherings etc..
• Learning new skills (farming, ICT, innovation, crafts).
• Reading books and broadening knowledge.
• Volunteering in church, parish groups, or community projects.
• Helping parents with chores and responsibilities.
• Strengthening spiritual life by attending Mass, retreats, and prayer gatherings.
• Participate in youth programs such as prayers, family gatherings etc..
Try a new hobby or skill; It can be reading novels, baking, singing, drawing, playing new games, care for creation activities and innovations, just think of something more exciting. Remember Every good choice helps build a better future.
Choose God, Choose Life, Choose Health
To all young people reading this, you have the power to change your world and our country, but it begins with taking responsibility for yourself. Caring for your physical and mental health is not only wise; it is a sacred duty and a way to protect God’s creation, starting with you. As the holidays begin, choose God rather than neglecting your faith, choose health over harm, purpose over mere pleasure, and discipline over destruction. Your life is a gift. Protect it, care for it, and use it to honor God and serve others.
About the writer
A dedicated educationist and mentor, Immaculate serves as the Programs Manager for the Laudato Youth Initiative, where she champions youth empowerment and environmental stewardship. As Patron of the Laudato Si Club and an English Language & Literature teacher at Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S., she is passionate about the transformative impact of education in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
With a strong commitment to mentoring young people, Immaculate actively supports youth in building resilience, nurturing their mental health, and fostering care for creation. Her work reflects a blend of visionary leadership, educational excellence, and a commitment to personal growth in faith and environmental consciousness.
