By: Ollus Ndomu
The Coronavirus outbreak has without doubt exacerbated the prevalence of mental health problems in Africa. Studies have reported how this continent’s people are depressed to alarming levels. Currently, an estimate of 100 million Africans suffer from clinical depression, with 12% of the annual depression cases ending in total madness. Depression, a factor behind the increasing suicide cases around the continent, has been described by the World Bank as “the greatest thief of productive economic life.” Research shows that mental-health service provision is under-funded and neglected with countries relying only on evidence-based intervention as a front-line method for treating mental illnesses.
It is time Africa declared war against this growing problem that is affecting women at twice the rate of men as reported by Strong-minds 2021 survey. Fighting mental health problems should be an all-inclusive undertaking. National governments should increase funding towards addressing this problem and deliver interventions in schools, clinics and communities and churches to improve mental healthcare across all age groups. Mental health should be an integral part of programs related to community empowerment, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, and reproductive and sexual health.
Such a holistic approach will help improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma and will make communities more sensitive to the causes and effects of this phenomenon. We agree with Victor Ugo, founder at Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, one of Africa’s largest user-led youth mental health networks, when calls for political will in raising mental health awareness.
Ugo says, “There is an archaic before independence mental health law called the lunacy act, which somewhat legalizes the rampant human rights abuse people with mental health conditions face, and very low mental health literacy of the majority of the population. There is a lack of political will and commitment from decision-makers, resulting in a lack of funding for programs, capacity building and research.”
African governments, civil societies, researchers, church bodies and all informal and formal groups should include mental health in their business. We need healthy societies, healthy families and a healthy workforce. Help improve mental health beginning today.
Ollus Ndomu, Editor-in-Chief
