By Rudo Saungweme
Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Obadiah Moyo has officially launched the national strategic plan for mental health services at Parirenyatwa Hospital today.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Moyo said that the main cause of mental health disorder worldwide was depression and substance use.
“Mental, neurological and substance use disorders contribute significantly to disease burden with one in four people being affected by a mental health disorder in their life time. Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide and substance use is one of the leading causes of disease among young people,” he said.
Honourable Moyo said that mental disorder did not only affect an individual person but the family and the nation as a whole.
“Mental health disorders affect not only individual lives but their families, the productivity of the communities they are part of and the nation`s progress as a whole,” said Minister Moyo.
Dr Moyo added that the country`s mental health legislation needs to be revised and reviewed and brought in line with modern approaches to mental health care. He cited the impact of Cyclone Idai as an example.
He said, “A clear example of the need of mental health services is seen in the current devastating impact of Cyclone Idai. Cyclone Idai has left a trail of devastation with hundreds losing their lives and thousands of survivors now faced with loss of many family members, all their possessions and homes.”
He indicated that many will suffer not only grief from losing their loved ones, but psychological reactions to devastation in the form of Acute Stress disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In relation to that, Minister Moyo called all Psychology professionals to meet on 2 April at Celebration Centre so as to arrange to go to Chimanimani and offer psychological assistance to all those who were affected by Cyclone Idai.
More than 40 000 people had been left food insecure by Cyclone Idai, while more than 7 000 had their homes destroyed. About 180 people have been confirmed dead.
