Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Butabika Mental National Referral Hospital has registered 1500 patients, the highest number of patients received at the facility in a year according to the Executive Director, Dr. Juliet Nakku. On average, Butabika Mental National Referral Hospital receives about 500 patients annually. However, the facility had …
Read More »COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries: WHO survey
Geneva, Switzerland | XINHUA | The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 percent of countries, according to a survey released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday. The survey, conducted from June to August among 130 countries across the WHO’ six regions, evaluates how …
Read More »Laypeople bridge gap as COVID-19 takes toll on mental health
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At the time of our meeting, Linda Nsababera was on her way to meet a company director who had closed and asked her staff to work from home at the height of the lockdown instituted by the Ministry of Health to halt further spread …
Read More »COVID-19 pandemic affects mental health of millions of people: WHO chief
Geneva, Switzerland | XINHUA | The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of millions of people, in terms of the anxiety and fear it has caused, and disruption to mental health services. “For many people, the …
Read More »Brain gets bigger if you’re anxious and depressed: study
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Depression and anxiety cause one area of the human brain to become “significantly” larger, according to an Australian study. The study, published by Australian National University (ANU) researchers recently, looked at the brains of more than 10,000 people. The study shows that depression alone causes the …
Read More »Mbale mental health patients struggling to get treatment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The decision to designate the psychiatric ward at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital into a Covid-19 isolation unit has affected the delivery of mental health services. Apparently, patients in need of admission are being referred to Butabika Mental Referral Hospital since the hospital lacks space …
Read More »Supporting children’s mental health during COVID-19
Psychologists and psychiatrists recommend ways to help them understand and cope Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | The COVID-19 pandemic, with its consequences of social isolation, increased hygiene demands, and lack of access to usual therapies and activities is causing adverse mental health among children. This was revealed by psychologists …
Read More »Experts want mental health status of medical workers treating Covid-19 assessed
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mental health experts say it’s important that health workers are tested for their mental readiness to work in COVID-19 treatment units. Speaking during a meeting held by the Makerere University School of Public Health, Entebbe Grade B hospital Director Dr Moses Muwanga says they …
Read More »Mental health and COVID-19
Government should align the COVID -19 prevention and control mechanisms with the mental health challenges COMMENT | ANTHONY ODUR | The COVID -19 preventative and control measures in place till May 05, 2020 and the insurmountable updates transmitted through radio, television, and social media platforms are well founded. However these …
Read More »NGO developing app for sharing mental health challenges
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Owing to the stigma around mental health that some people stay away from seeking care, a local NGO is developing an app that helps link users with service providers and also enable them share their stories without revealing their identity. Pat Robert Larubi, …
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