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  2. World Mental Health Day 2020

World Mental Health Day 2020

Message of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti

In celebration of World Mental Health Day 2020, this year’s theme is “Move for Mental Health: Let’s Invest” to advocate for increased international and domestic financing for mental health and well-being.

This investment is urgently needed. Globally, one in four people will be affected by a mental disorder at some point in their lives, and in the WHO African Region, government expenditure per capita on mental health is less than 10 cents.

Most mental health services are paid for directly by patients and their carers. For low-income households and other vulnerable groups, the cost of this essential care can cause financial hardship. In working together to attain universal health coverage, we must ensure people affected by mental health issues are not left behind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out more than ever, how mental health is integral to overall well-being. Restrictions on movement and gathering, job losses, deaths of loved ones, and widespread COVID-19 infections have led to fear, anxiety and depression. There are reports of upsurges in intimate partner violence and suicides.

Mental health needs in the African Region are significant. Fifteen African countries are among the top 30 globally for suicide per 100,000 people.  Although many countries have developed national mental health policies, the availability of services is often limited to specialized institutions in capital cities.

Globally there are nine mental health workers per 100,000 people. In the African Region, this falls to 0.9, and among this workforce one third are non-professional workers, meaning there is a severe shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists in African countries.

Some countries are making progress, such as Cabo Verde, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda where governments have committed to decentralizing mental health services, moving away from institution-based care, and strengthening care at primary health and community levels.

At WHO we are working with governments to review mental health legislation and related policies, and to build capacities using the MH-Gap approach, a task sharing strategy where primary health care workers are trained and then supervised in managing common mental disorders.

Zimbabwe was selected to be part of the WHO Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health to strengthen these services. A national assessment of the mental health services was carried out in 2019 and virtual consultations to develop a plan of action have so far engaged over 100 stakeholders.

In the context of COVID-19, we are working with governments and partners to include mental health care as part of continuity of essential health services, and we are providing psychosocial skills training for first responders.

In a survey led by WHO and UNICEF in East and Southern Africa, responders reported depression and anxiety, especially when working in high-risk settings or without personal protective equipment. In response, we have developed a guide for responders to be able to recognize signs of distress in themselves, their colleagues and those they interact with. The guide provides self-help techniques, and tips on listening, de-escalating tense situations, and referrals.

In a global survey led by WHO on mental health and COVID-19 between June and August, 27 of 28 African countries that responded, indicated mental health and psychosocial support was included in the national COVID-19 response plan, but only 17 had funding for the planned activities. This reaffirms the importance of this year’s theme of investing in mental health.

In closing, I call on governments, partners and communities to promote social interventions, such as strengthening peer support, re-integrating long-stay patients into communities, and equipping caregivers with the knowledge and resources to better support people with mental disorders. I call on employers to invest in staff wellness programmes and training in psychological first aid.

There are basic steps we can all take to improve our mental health: getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy food, avoiding alcohol, exercising, socialising, and developing strategies to manage stress and anxiety. I ask every person to invest in your mental health and well-being and to be supportive of those around you.

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