Lack of mental health facilities a serious concern
Urgent need for infrastructure
There is an urgent shortage of mental health facilities in the country, leaving thousands of people who need care for common mental disorders in limbo, according to health minister, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula.He said that at the country's largest mental health facility, the Windhoek Central Hospital, there are only 220 beds for psychiatric patients, while Ward 16 at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital can only accommodate 60. The facilities must cater for all mental health-related needs, such as general inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, outreach services and forensic psychiatric services.
Shangula made this statement while launching the first mental health board for the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.
Speaking at the event, Shangula highlighted the scale of the country's mental health challenges and the urgent need for upgraded infrastructure.
High suicide rates
Poor mental health is associated with Namibia's increasing suicide rate, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) stands at around 9.7 per 100 000 members of the population. This is the fourth highest compared to neighbouring countries South Africa (23.5), Botswana (16.10) and Zimbabwe (14.1).
Official statistics from the health ministry show that 745 suicides were reported in Namibia between January 2020 and June 2021, while 1 172 people attempted or considered taking their own lives.
More than 70% of the suicides reported to the Ministry of Health during the reporting period were men.
A notable silver lining, Shangula said, is the growing interest among medical practitioners to specialize in mental health. "In recent years, we have observed a growing number of doctors, nurses, social workers and other professionals pursuing training in various mental health disciplines."
However, the ever-growing demand for these services highlights the inadequacy of existing mental health facilities.
The minister gave assurances that the government is engaged in ongoing efforts to improve mental health care. "We are committed to improving mental health services through training, resource allocation and improved infrastructure."