MENTAL HEALTH IS REAL

Mental health activist and Founder of the Botswana Network for Mental Health (BNMH), Charity Kennedy has called for the promotion of the health side of the mind instead of focusing on illnesses. Sharing her experience at a mental health seminar held at the University of Botswana Kennedy said people often talk about mental health in a vacuum, almost distancing themselves like it’s something that affects certain people only. “But we are all affected. We all should be concerned about the health of our minds,” she stated. A survivor of depression and numerous suicide attempts, Kennedy said majority of people seeking medical treatment at primary health facilities suffer a mental condition but are unaware of it. She said the ratio of psychiatrists to patients in Botswana is a big issue that has unfortunately also added to the problem of wrong diagnosis on patients, or doctors who just rush to prescribe drugs without exploring other natural means of dealing with mental conditions. “You cannot look at mental health in isolation. You cannot quantify it. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not the mere absence of disease”; she said citing the WHO definition of health. She noted that awareness needs to be created not just on the causes and treatment of mental conditions, but on leaders as well. “We need a change of mindset from our leaders. They need to appreciate the true extent of mental health issues facing our country. “Another thing that lacks in our mental health system is support and rehabilitation for sufferers,” said Kennedy. “You end up in a mental institution and before you know it you are discharged and may not be ready to face society, as people will judge you as insane. “Sometimes, you don’t even understand your condition fully. Users of psychiatry often need time out after treatment to get in touch with themselves, but we do not have facilities which offer rehabilitation” she said. The lack of these facilities, she said, often leads to a recurrence of a mental illness.