Without Clinical Care, Mental Treatment in Ethiopia Falls Short

June 4 , 2022
By Tigist Solomon ( Tigist Solomon is passionate about socio-economic issues, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. She can be reached at tgstsolomon@gmail.com. )

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Mental health and, more importantly, depression is a common health problem worldwide, with more cases in well-developed countries. In 2017, mental health data indicated that there were approximately 792 million people with mental health conditions worldwide. Severe or long-term stress, childhood abuse, trauma or neglect, and social isolation are factors for mental disorders. Further investigations and studies are needed to understand the gender difference in mental health.

The issue is less common in sub-Saharan Africa than the rest of the world. But the difference could also be because of more identified and reported cases in developed countries. This is mainly due to more adequate health institutions, professionals and academics available to identify and diagnose people with mental disorders in these countries.

Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders are also chronic, which generally requires lifelong follow-up and treatment. With limited health facilities and fewer experts in the field, mental health problems are less identified and reported in sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, in countries like Ethiopia, traditional and religious practices are advised for people suffering from mental health issues. Traditional therapies are most preferred to all other practices, including medical and counselling services. In fact, in addition to clinical support, non-medical solutions are also practised in well-developed countries like yoga and meditation are almost unheard of in Ethiopia.

Despite the low level of identified and reported mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa, more and more research and studies on the subject have been carried out very recently to improve the suffering of people with mental health. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria are implementing good initiatives to promote mental health care in their respective countries and further in Africa.

Findings from the most recent studies on mental health have been to identify and understand the reported lack of importance attributed to mental health on the continent. New activities such as art, drama, and music focusing on mental health and care are being implemented in sub-Saharan Africa to raise public awareness on the subject and maintain overall mental well-being.

Likewise, universities and health centres on the continent have put in place initiatives to train more psychiatric professionals as well as develop adequate health facilities with well-equipped tools where effective research on mental health is conducted. It is expected that this initiative will eventually promote the discovery of medicines and other similar cures for psychotic problems. The good initiatives of universities and faculties to associate themselves with renowned foreign universities and research centres on mental health should be encouraged. Obviously, the result is positive, although it requires greater attention.

Nowadays, clinical practices for mental treatment are increasingly developed in sub-Saharan Africa and require more devotion to make the service accessible to a wider audience. There is a need to raise public awareness about mental health, including in remote areas and among people with low literacy levels. In order to ensure the good health and general well-being of all human beings, the maintenance of their mental state is fundamental. Subsequently, voluntary non-profit organisations, health institutions, including faculties and research centres, have the responsibility to coordinate well-defined activities and provide a holistic solution to promote the need for mental health care and wellness in sub-Saharan Africa, where clinical remedies have limited attention.

Greater advocacies on mental health using the media, including extensive research focusing both on traditional and clinical care, are needed to protect the mental well-being of people in Africa. Also, there is a need to promote more and more clinical care in mental treatment. Combined with traditional practices, vetted by professionals, clinical care and treatment, will go a long way in addressing the issue of mental disorders across the world.

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PUBLISHED ON Jun 04,2022 [ VOL 23 , NO 1153]

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