Mental illness cases increase

DRUG abuse, especially among boys and men aged below 30 years has resulted in an increase of cases of mental health illness in the Midlands Province, the provincial medical director, Dr Milton Chemhuru, said.

In a speech read on his behalf by provincial health promotion officer Ms Priscillah Gwanyanya during the Midlands Mental Health Open Day commemorations in Gweru on Thursday, Dr Chemhuru said research has revealed that mental health in most youths was as a result of drug abuse.

"We are recording more cases of mental illness in the province with these cases coming from such districts as Gokwe, Silobela, Mvuma, Shurugwi and Zvishavane. According to our records and statistics, the major cause of mental illness is drug abuse especially among those aged between 15 and 30 years," said Dr Chemhuru.

"More men than women are affected and Gokwe district has the highest number of drug abuse cases."

Dr Chemhuru said most cases of mental health illness were, however, not being reported to hospitals.

He attributed society's reluctance to report mental health cases primarily to cultural and social beliefs.

"Most people in Zimbabwe believe mental health is caused by witchcraft hence their reluctance to report mental health cases to the hospital. Many families instead consult traditional and faith healers. While we do not dispute this belief, medical treatment remains critical in assisting mentally challenged people," he said.

Dr Chemhuru said owing to the strong cultural beliefs attached to mental illness, very few mentally challenged persons were receiving treatment at the Gweru Provincial Hospital's psychiatric ward.

"Last year, we had only 419 clients who were brought for treatment at Gweru Provincial Hospital yet there are hundreds of mentally challenged persons within our communities," he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, former Midlands Governor Cephas Msipa, who was the guest of honour, said stigma was the major impediment in reducing cases of mental illness in the country.

He urged members of the community to avoid stigmatising people suffering from mental illness.

Msipa said the Government should allocate more funds towards eradicating the ever-increasing cases of mental health illness in the country.

"We need, as a nation, to enhance our investment in mental health substantially and we need to do it now. A higher proportion of the national budget should be allocated to develop adequate infrastructure and outreach mental health care services," he said.

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