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Ruth Butaumocho
African Agenda
In the last two years, the world has been under siege from unprecedented challenges that are threatening to hamper humanity’s ability to respond, while also posing several threats to the existence of human kind in the near future.
From the consequential effects of Covid-19, humanitarian crisis such as natural disasters owing to climate change, unending conflicts in some parts of the world and the breakdown of marriages, families and societies as they crumble under these challenges, have captivated societies.
The globe has become a “fragmented world” currently battling with energy price chaos, inflation, global recession, epidemics of diseases, widening economic inequity and the impact of the Russia and Ukraine conflict on food prices.
Those not strong enough to wither the raging storms, rocking humanity on a daily basis, have taken to alcohol, substance and drug abuse, while others have sunk deep into depression.
Depression has become a silent epidemic in Africa, which most people are battling with.
It has resulted in a surge in crimes of violence, suicides and substance abuse, while hundreds silently are battling with it.
Mental health has become a problem that a lot of individuals in most African states are battling with on a daily basis.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 85 percent of people with depression have no access to effective treatment, and they end up worse off than what they were, when they fail to get medication, or psycho-support.
Research has shown that untreated depressive symptoms increase the chance of risky behaviours such as drug or alcohol addiction.
It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses.
In severe cases, people get into a rage without provocation, attempt or even commit suicide.
Research from the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drugs Network shows that 60 percent of admissions into mental health institutions are due to substance abuse, and 80 percent of these admissions are students from tertiary institutions, who will be battling all forms of depression.
Sadly, some never get an opportunity to get admitted into a rehabilitation centre and end up sinking deeper into depression to the extent of attempting or ending their lives.
Early this week an unidentified Harare man survived a suicide attempt when he jumped off from a city building.
Luckily enough, he survived and was immediately rushed to hospital, after sustaining a broken hand and bruises all over the body.
According to an eye witness, the man threw himself from the rooftop intending to kill himself, but survived.
It could not be ascertained why the man wanted to kill himself.
Last year, the country reported a surge in suicide case with depression being recorded as the major causes.
In one of the cases highlighted by the media, a 59- year-old Harare man George Nigel Rennie committed suicide after he shot himself in the head with a gun at his house in Gunhill.
Unconfirmed reports say Rennie had been suffering from depression.
Rennie’s death came barely weeks after a Harare Ximex Mall dealer, Tafadzwa Murengwa, alias Boss Pangolin, shot and killed his girlfriend along Simon Mazorodze Road after accusing her of cheating him with a married man and then committed suicide.
While in some instances reasons for ending one’s life are often not disclosed, such sad and unsettling incidences points to a mentally disintegrating society crying for help.
According to a report by the World Health Organisation released in October last year, around 11 people per 100 000 per year die by suicide in the African region, higher than the global average of nine per 100 000 people.
The report attributes these suicides to insufficient action to address and prevent the risk factors, including mental health conditions which currently affect 116 million people, up from 53 million in 1990.
The common means of suicide in the region are hanging and pesticide self- poisoning and to a lesser extent drowning, use of a firearm, jumping from a height or medication overdose.
Studies show that in Africa for each completed suicide, there are an estimated 20 attempted ones.
Health experts and psychologist’s attribute say mental health problems account for up to 11 percent of the risk factors associated with suicide.
So when one decides to take his or her life, they will be undergoing mental related problems, which family members and close associates may fail to detect in time.
In the event that family detects mental-related symptoms, help can be slow in coming because institutions that accommodate individuals are few and often fully booked to take in new patients.
Societal stigma, where people scorn individuals with mental-related problems exacerbates the situation as victims become reluctant to disclose their condition fearing rejection, ridicule and the possibility of ex-communication from the family.
The graph on mental health–related problems continues to grow, unabated a development that calls for a paradigm shift in raising awareness on the scourge, private sector engagement and increase in resource allocation as part of a litany of efforts to step up mental health services in the region.
Resource allocation towards mental health services have already received affirmation from African health ministers who feel the problem has been neglected.
In August last year, African health ministers gathering for the 72th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa —the region’s flagship health meeting — endorsed a new strategy to reinforce mental health care and set 2030 targets, which among other things calls on all countries to have a policy or legislation on mental health.
The legislation on mental health should ensure that Government allocates enough resources that allows for the construction of more mental institutions, training of specialised mental health carers and robust awareness campaigns.
The awareness campaigns should be carried out throughout the year and not be implemented on ad hoc basis as is the case with most countries at the moment.
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