‘Form community mental health groups’

Tanaka Mahanya

ZIMBABWE Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Trust founder, Angelica Mkorongo, has urged communities to form small mental health groups.

She believes this will help in addressing mental health issues.

The rights of people with mental health conditions, she said, should be respected.

“There is a lack of knowledge about the disorder among sufferers and the community as a whole.

“Most people with mental disorders lack psychological and medical assistance and are shunned by the community due to ignorance.

“Family members are equally confused and so are traditional healers and prophets. Research into the extent of the disorder is needed, and getting communities to talk about OCD and encouraging mental health disorders to be taught in schools,” she said.

She said communities should work together and ensure that drug abuse cases are dealt with at community level.

“If communities come together to form support groups, where people can talk about their problems, they can achieve community-based recovery.

“Recovery does not only happen in hospitals as it begins when you find people who can listen to you.

“So, it is our duty to raise awareness on mental health, as there is an increase in deaths by suicide,” she said.