Mental Health Department partnered with traditional herbalists to help identify serious mental health cases for referral and better management Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Traditional healers in Acholi sub-region are registering very few persons seeking traditional medicine for managing mental health illnesses thanks to a partnership with the mental health …
Read More »COVID-19 patients presenting with mental illnesses – Experts
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Patients receiving treatment for COVID-19 and some of the recovered cases are presenting with a number of mental illnesses, mental health experts have revealed. While studies show that COVID-19 mainly affects the respiratory system, medical experts say evidence from active patients and recovered cases …
Read More »Patients seeking mental health services drop as deaths by suicide rise
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The number of mentally ill persons seeking mental health services at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has drastically reduced amidst the rising number of deaths by suicide in Acholi sub region. Freddy Odong, a psychiatric nurse and the project manager of suicide prevention at Gulu Regional …
Read More »WHO decries rising burden of mental illnesses in Africa due to COVID-19
Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday sounded alarm over a spike in mental ailments in Africa due to COVID-19 related social and economic disruptions. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the pandemic had worsened the continent’s mental health crisis amid lockdowns, job …
Read More »Isolations, social distancing could fuel mental health challenges
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mental health specialists are concerned that current isolation and quarantine strategies to halt the spread of COVID-19 will facilitate social withdrawal, a risky practice for people with suicidal tendencies. The caution comes as Uganda continues to restrain non-essential activities and asking others to stay …
Read More »Alcohol, drug abuse leading cause of mental illness- Report
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Alcohol and drug abuse are the leading cause of mental ill health, a new report by TRAC FM has revealed. The study titled- ‘Disability Rights in Uganda-A Community Perspective’ was carried out by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda-NUDIPU in collaboration with TRAC …
Read More »Mental health experts want National plan to tackle mental illness
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Private mental healthcare providers are asking government to come up with a combined national plan to tackle mental illness. Janet Kantarama, the Executive Director of a Private mental facility Safe Places Uganda says though parliament passed a new mental health law last year that …
Read More »People with suicidal thoughts on the increase – Mental health expert
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More people are reporting to mental health facilities testifying that they have either contemplated suicide or attempted it. This is according to Janet Kantarama the Executive Director Safe Places Uganda a private Mental Illness treatment centre. Kantarama also says that the number of suicides …
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