Image by Total Shape from Pixabay
Uganda will join the rest of the world in commemorating World Mental Health Day on 10th October, with the theme, ‘access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies’. Uganda has experienced various emergencies from cholera, ebola and m-pox outbreaks, to flooding in different parts of the country, landslides and the continued influx of refugees.
While disasters are inevitable, mental distress should not be. Disasters impact both physical and mental health, yet mental scars are often hidden. If left unaddressed, they undermine community resilience and sustain a cycle of vulnerability. Although mental health remains a priority in the Health Sector Strategic Plan, more effort is needed to build a strong, disaster-ready mental health system that ensures services reach communities when they need them most.
Providing accurate and timely information about available services and educational resources remains a significant gap in the mental health system. Currently, stigma, discrimination, misinformation, and negative attitudes towards mental illness hinder help-seeking. If communities are uncomfortable seeking mental health support during times of stability, it becomes much more difficult during an emergency to persuade them to prioritise their mental wellbeing, as competing needs arise during these periods. We need to normalise conversations about mental illness to increase the use of available services and educate communities on trauma and coping strategies to foster self-care and resilience.
The government should act promptly to enhance the integration of mental health into all parts of the healthcare system. Although efforts are being made to extend services to all levels of society, such as the establishment of mental health units in regional areas, these services are predominantly located in urban or peri-urban areas, leaving rural communities with limited access to care. There is also an opportunity to strengthen the integration of mental health services into emergency response programs by providing more training and resources, ensuring that people have access to services when and where they need them. Integrated services enable communities to continue receiving long-term and tailored support, not only immediately after disasters but also ongoing mental health assistance to help maintain their mental wellbeing.
Budget allocations for mental health services should be increased to improve service delivery, including health facility-based services as well as community and outreach programs. The budget increment will also be instrumental in facilitating upgrades to existing facilities and developing new ones, improving the capability of skilled professionals including first responders and boosting research to provide the most up-to-date services and treatment options to support sustained mental wellbeing. Particularly, a nationwide mental health first aid program targeting community health workers, disaster response teams, and the general public can promote help-seeking and potentially save many lives, much like first aid for physical injuries is vital. These investments support a proactive approach to establishing strong and swift mental health services before and during disasters.
Lastly, providing mental health services requires a multi-stakeholder effort at all times, and this is especially true during emergencies. Although some progress has been made towards coordinated service delivery, initiatives remain fragmented. Fostering partnerships and collaborations between community-based organisations, development partners, and non-governmental organisations will help communities recover more quickly, facilitated by increased access to services and leveraging resources from various stakeholders. Collaboration also ensures that services stay flexible and adaptable to the rapidly changing circumstances and the diverse, unique needs of communities. As we mark Mental Health Day this October, let us prioritise investments and strategies that reinforce the mental health care system well before disasters occur.
Written by Dr Anne Nattembo
The Health Media Centre 