Spotlight on mental health awareness

The deputy minister of health, Esther Utjiua Muinjangue, stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of those dealing with mental health conditions at the national celebration of World Mental Health Day staged in Usakos.

At the event, hosted under the banner of ‘Mental health is a universal human right’, Muinjangue drew attention to the vulnerability of individuals living with mental health issues - especially children and older persons - due to various forms of abuse, be it physical, emotional, or sexual. “As a society, we have a collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members and guarantee their safety, regardless of their mental health status.”

She added that, tragically, the abuse of children and elders with mental health conditions can occur in diverse settings, including homes, hospitals, and care facilities. “Mental health issues encompass a wide range of challenges, including social isolation or loneliness, the effects of childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect, experiencing discrimination and stigma, racism, social disadvantage, poverty, or debt, grief from losing someone close, enduring severe or long-term stress, and coping with long-term physical health conditions.”

Irene Simeon-Kurtz, the mayor of Usakos, called on Namibians to not ignore the occurrence or re-occurrence of mental health issues within homes and communities. “People who suffer from mental challenges face many difficulties which affect families or individuals. World Mental Health Day serves as a reminder that mental health is a universal human right, and collective efforts are needed to promote awareness, understanding, and action to support the mental well-being of all individuals. In Usakos, as in many communities worldwide, the commitment to this cause is evident, and it is a step towards a more inclusive and empathetic society.”