Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
IRELAND-based mental health nurse Cleo Raem firmly believes Zimbabwe is on the right track in embracing mental health awareness.
Raem is a Zimbabwean-born, UK-trained mental health nurse, author and founder of Cleo NR Books.
With more than 20 years of experience in the sector, Raem has vowed to use her influence to share her experiences through a new book to be launched this Friday.
Titled ‘Diaries of a Mental Health Nurse’, the book was independently published under Cleo NR Books.
It draws on more than 20 years of Raem’s experience working in mental health services in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Raem said mental healthcare was essential and should be treated as an integral part of the country’s healthcare system.
“Zimbabwe must recognise mental health as an essential part of healthcare rather than treating it as a secondary concern,” she said.
“This requires greater investment in mental health services, more trained professionals, reliable access to medication and counselling, and services that reach rural communities as well as major cities.
“Mental health support should be integrated into primary healthcare so that people can receive early assessment and intervention at their local clinics. Schools, universities and workplaces should also have mental health education and support programmes.
“Zimbabwe could further benefit from partnerships involving the Government, healthcare professionals, community organisations, the diaspora and international partners.
“Most importantly, people experiencing mental illness must be treated with dignity and compassion rather than judgement, isolation or discrimination.”
Raem said she had a lot to share through her book.
“Throughout my career, I have witnessed the realities of mental illness, the pressures faced by healthcare professionals, and the courage and resilience shown by patients and their families.
“I wanted to take readers inside a profession that is often misunderstood and show the human stories behind mental healthcare.
“Diaries of a Mental Health Nurse explores compassion, crisis care, stigma, racism, ethical challenges, teamwork, burnout, leadership and hope.
“All patient-related experiences have been carefully anonymised to protect confidentiality and dignity.
“Ultimately, I wrote the book to encourage greater understanding, reduce stigma and remind people that mental illness can affect anyone.”
She challenged families to start addressing mental health issues at grassroots level.
“Change must begin with honest conversations in families and communities. Mental illness should not be regarded as a source of shame, personal weakness or spiritual failure.
“Community health workers, teachers, church leaders, traditional leaders and other trusted community figures can be trained to recognise early warning signs and guide people towards professional help.
“Mental health information should be provided in local languages and in ways that respect Zimbabwean culture.
“Communities could establish support groups, safe spaces and outreach programmes where people can speak openly without fear of being judged.
“Families also need education because they are often the first source of support. Early intervention can prevent someone from reaching a crisis point.
“Grassroots work should therefore focus on awareness, prevention, early identification and clear referral pathways to qualified professionals.”
Raem, who spent four months writing the book, conceded that balancing her demanding work schedule with writing was not easy.
“One of the greatest challenges was balancing honesty with my professional responsibility to protect confidentiality.
“Every account was carefully written and reviewed to ensure that no patient could be identified.
“Although the process was demanding, it was also rewarding and reflective.
“It allowed me to give a voice to a profession that is rarely understood from the inside.”
She has more than 20 years of experience in mental health nursing across the United Kingdom and Ireland and has lived and worked in Ireland for eight years.
She is the author of Under Foreign Skies: A Mother’s Story of Survival and Diaries of a Mental Health Nurse. Through her writing and advocacy, Raem seeks to raise mental health awareness, challenge stigma, and encourage compassion, understanding and open conversation.
