Why Mental Hygiene by Lameck Pious Simfukwe Deserves a Spot on Every Young Person’s Bookshelf
In a time when mental health issues are growing, especially among young people, few books rise to meet the need for accessible, practical, and empowering resources. Mental Hygiene: The Trajectory to Self-discovery by Lameck Pious Simfukwe is one of those rare books, a powerful companion for youth navigating the complex terrain of identity, purpose, and psychological well-being.
The COPPA Book Awards 2025
This year, Simfukwe has been named a finalist for the 2025 COPPA Book Awards, an esteemed recognition of literary excellence among young African writers. He is also among a selected group of authors invited to attend the awards ceremony at Garden Court Hotel in Kitwe, a major milestone that honors not just his literary achievement but his tireless mental health advocacy work.
This isn’t just a book. It’s a movement. It’s a message. And it might just be the manual young people have been waiting for.
A Fresh Take on Mental Health and Personal Growth
“Mental hygiene” is not a term we hear often, yet it perfectly captures the book’s central message: just as we wash our bodies and brush our teeth to stay clean and healthy, we must regularly clear our minds of toxic thoughts, unprocessed emotions, and mental clutter.
Simfukwe offers readers a step-by-step framework for cultivating self-awareness, building emotional resilience, and living a life of clarity and intention. It’s not written in abstract academic language. Instead, it’s grounded in everyday experiences, cultural references, and relatable struggles, especially for Zambian and African youth.
Whether you’re a student battling the pressure of exams, a young adult navigating social media comparisons, or someone simply trying to find meaning and self-worth in a chaotic world, this book provides more than theory, it offers tools.
What Makes This Book Stand Out?
1. A Roadmap to Self-Discovery
Simfukwe invites readers to ask the hard questions: Who am I beyond the roles I play? Beyond what others expect of me? Through engaging storytelling and clear guidance, readers are taken on an inner journey that opens the door to deeper understanding and authenticity.
2. Language That Connects
What makes this book incredibly effective is how simple and conversational it is. Complex psychological concepts are broken down using metaphors, real-life examples, and familiar cultural narratives. It’s written for young people, by someone who understands their world firsthand.
3. Practical and Actionable Advice
This book isn’t just meant to be read, it’s meant to be lived. Simfukwe lays out specific daily practices for maintaining mental hygiene: journaling, self-reflection, identifying emotional triggers, breathing techniques, and cultivating gratitude, among others.
4. A Challenge to Reclaim Your Mind
One of the strongest parts of the book is its boldness in confronting the hidden influences that shape young minds—peer pressure, discontentment, social media illusions, toxic friendships, and self-doubt. Simfukwe encourages readers to take control of their mental space and resist the pull of conformity.
5. Rebuilding Self-Worth
So many young people today silently struggle with self-doubt, comparison, and hopelessness. The book unpacks how these mental patterns develop, how they affect behavior and emotions, and most importantly, how they can be changed. It is especially timely in addressing how unresolved emotional pain can lead to depression and suicidal ideation.
Key Lessons Readers Will Gain
- Understanding the Mind: How your thoughts shape your feelings, and how your feelings drive your actions. The book helps readers gain control over this cycle.
- Self-Awareness and Identity: Encourages reflection on one’s values, beliefs, and life goals—helping youth step into their full potential.
- Emotional Intelligence: Readers are taught how to deal with emotional wounds, recognize unhealthy thought patterns, and develop resilience.
- Purpose and Vision: Simfukwe helps youth craft a personal vision, emphasizing the power of clarity and self-belief in defining one’s future.
- Daily Practices for Mental Hygiene: Just as brushing teeth prevents decay, regular mental routines can prevent emotional burnout.
- Courage to Be Different: The book inspires non-conformity, urging youth to stand boldly in their truth even when it means going against the crowd.
About the Author
Lameck Pious Simfukwe was born in 1999 in Chisamba District, Central Province of Zambia. He completed his senior secondary school at Chibombo Boarding School in 2017 and later enrolled at the Copperbelt University in 2019. In 2021, he was accepted into the School of Medicine to pursue Biomedical Sciences and has recently graduated as a Biomedical Scientist.
Beyond academics, Simfukwe is the Copperbelt Province Vice Chairperson of the Zambia Nursing Foundation and an Aspire Leaders Program alumnus. He is also the co-founder of the CBU-SOM Mental Health Matters Movement, an initiative that grew out of a visible gap in mental health support on campus. Since its inception, he has helped lead mental health campaigns and training programs targeting students and young professionals.
In March 2024, he was the keynote speaker at the first-ever Mental Health Seminar at NIPA Ndola Campus. That same spark of impact led him to write Mental Hygiene, a book born from experience, passion, and purpose.
Why This Book Matters
It’s no secret that many young people silently carry burdens that society often ignores. From academic stress to family trauma, from social media pressure to emotional isolation—youth mental health is at risk. Yet, conversations around this are still limited, especially in African communities.
Final Words
At a time when the world feels increasingly loud and chaotic, Mental Hygiene is a quiet revolution. It’s a call to return to oneself, to clean the mind, and to live with purpose and mental clarity.
Whether you’re a student trying to find your way, a parent looking for something meaningful for your teen, or an educator seeking to inspire your learners, this book is the answer.
And with the 2025 COPPA Book Awards recognizing its value on a national stage, Mental Hygiene is more than a book. It’s a movement whose time has come.
Get it. Read it. Share it. Let your journey to self-discovery begin.
Get Your Copy – Limited First Edition
Get your copy of Mental Hygiene for only K150 in hardcopy and K50 for eBooks. Now available in hardcopy with nationwide delivery directly from the author. The book is also listed on our website. Click the button below to place your order.
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