🎗Mental Health Equity for All 🎗
Why Mental Health in Africa Matters
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as ‘a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’
Mental illness refers to all of the diagnosable mental disorders,
which are characterised by abnormalities in thinking, feelings or
behaviours. Mental illness is closely related to vulnerability, both
in its causes and in its effects
Depression is a silent epidemic in Africa, especially
for women, who are affected at twice the rate of men. Yet most African
governments spend less than 1% of their allocated health budget on
mental health. The World Health Organization estimates that 85% of
people with depression have no access to effective treatment.
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Ways to effectively address mental health
- Transformation of attitude towards mental health problems through practices such as using community health workers and peer-based support.
- Cross-cultural approach that takes into account the requirements of individual communities incorporating both local practices and the local languages used to express individual mental health needs
- Stigmatisation of mental illness should be addressed through increased awareness, greater prioritisation of treatment, and enhanced support and education.