MENTAL ILLNESSES COST LIVES IN 2020
By Kenson McCloud
A mental health expert from the College of Medicine has attributed the rise in suicide cases to economic hardships and mental illnesses resulting from stress and anxiety in family set ups.
Dr Chiwoza Bandawe says the cases have risen by 57 percent compared to last year.
Dr Bandawe said, "The restrictive measures to control movements of people to access basic needs due to Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on people’s mental health."
According to Bandawe fear and uncertainty brought by the pandemic had an effect on people’s relationships as many were forced into social isolation.
"Lack of psychiatrics and psychologists in public and private hospitals has been a major setback to the country as the nation only has three registered psychiatrics and four clinical psychologists." bemoaned Dr Bandawe.
Going forward, Dr Bandawe called for more serious approach in an effort to address issues of mental health in the country.
He requested that more mental health experts be trained to increase the numbers to meet the increased demand of mental health service provision in the hospitals.
" Its high time men started coming in the open to discuss about their mental health issues as 85 percent of the suicide cases registered this year involves men." said Dr Bandawe.
