The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of people worldwide and taken a toll on the mental health of not only those with pre-existing conditions but created depression, anxiety and many have died from related causes like drug and substance abuse and yet Mental Health remains ignored with many mental health facilities have been converted to isolation units for COVID-19 patients.
Mental Health Uganda (MHU) is an indigenous, Non- Government, membership based Disabled People’s organization, established in response to the overwhelming marginalization, isolation and abuse of rights of persons with psycho-social disabilities/users of psychiatry services, and their families. MHU is taking the lead in advocating for the need for investment in mental health within the country and is calling on partners and other key players to join the struggle.
Mental Health Day is commemorated worldwide on 10th October every year to create an opportunity for the world to come together and shine a light on one of the most neglected areas in public health. This year Mental Health Uganda commemotes under the theme is Move for mental health: let’s invest. This has been done through a whole week oof mental health awareness online using infuluencers and champions who have expereinced mental health illness challenges. They also had a TV show on BBS telefina on Friday 9/10/2020 which created awareness in the community and the entire country at large.
Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide yet, relatively few people around the world have access to quality mental health services. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all. Furthermore, stigma, discrimination, punitive legislation and human rights abuses are still widespread. In Uganda the government spends only 0.7% of the health sector budget on mental health care countrywide which is insufficient to ably cater to the nationwide burden and has no provision for community mental health care. With regards to human resource, there are 0.8 psychiatrists and 2.24 mental health nurses for every 100,000 Ugandans.
MHU has been carrying out a series of activities to raise awareness leading up to today and call on stakeholders to invest in mental health or add their voices in advancing the cause for increased investment in the sector. So many people added their voice to this cause and conversation are recoreded on social media. Follow the hashtag #MentalHealthUg or #LetsInvest to find more information.
Most peopple were urguing the public to invest in their mental health beause it is the engine that drives them, Just as you go for a check up in the hospital you for a sickness, you can also go for mental health checkup.
Anoother higlight was to ask people to stop stigmatizing and descriminating the pateints of mental health. They need love and care not rejection and judgement.
“The government legislation definitely continues to ignore the interests of people with mental illnesses by not including them for example in the Covid relief food distribution exercise, Imagine if the ministry of sports and education redesigned the national curriculum to feature topics on mental Health. A very vibrant generation we’d be breeding for the future!, And as a country, we do not have vast specialized institutions training mental health works both in the medical and psycho social spheres, do we?, Banange let’s not judge by the looks to determine the fineness or the gravity of an illness. Let’s apply the right procedures, seek diagnosis and pay more attention, I’ve said it and I’ll repay it even Tommorrow that people with mental illnesses can recover and live productive lives”, Andrew Kananura, counselor at MHU
Mental health is just as important as physical health it shouldn’t be ignored. It affects all groups,whether rich or poor, educated or not. To day i might be the one affected but tomorrow could be you”. Juliet Nalukwago, Mental Health Champion. “breaking mental health stigma and discrimination begins with you by speaking up, practicing self care, patience and kindness to those affected with mental illnesses and also advocating for their rights”. Juliet Nalukwago – mental Health Champion
Let’s support Mental health care programs, emotional, physical and fainacicial.