Summary:

• Mental health advocates in Uganda are urging the Ministry of Health to formulate national policies addressing the alarming rates of suicide, with estimates from the WHO revealing 2,033 suicide deaths in 2020, prompting a call for comprehensive strategies, engagement with diverse stakeholders, and integration of mental health services into various sectors.

Last week, advocates for mental health urged the Ministry of Health to develop national policies aimed at addressing the challenges of suicide and mental health in the country.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda recorded 2,033 suicide deaths in 2020, constituting 0.98% of total deaths, with a death rate of 10.45 per 100,000 people. Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29.

Vulnerable groups facing discrimination, conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, and a sense of isolation are particularly affected by high suicide rates. WHO reports that annually, 703,000 individuals die by suicide, and many more attempt it. Each suicide has profound and lasting effects on families, communities, and entire nations.

Addressing the issue at the Golf Course hotel, Stuart Raymond Kasule, a suicide prevention trainer and mental health advocate, emphasized the need for the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with parliament, to establish a dedicated policy to combat mental health challenges in Uganda.

Kasule noted ongoing engagements with national and international entities, including the WHO, the Ministry of Health, Parliament of Uganda, Butabika Hospital, the Buganda Kingdom, and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. He highlighted efforts to introduce training models for suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by government entities and hospitals, Kasule emphasized the lack of first aid for mental health challenges and training models. He advocated for a collective effort involving all stakeholders in the fight against suicide and mental health challenges.

Living Works International, Kasule mentioned, had agreed to provide free suicide prevention models and training for Ugandans. Recognizing the prevalence of suicide and mental health challenges, he stressed the importance of engaging men and the boy child, emphasizing that men often conceal their struggles, resorting to activities like football matches and bars.

Kasule called for the integration of mental health services into general healthcare, task-sharing with non-specialist care providers in primary healthcare, and the establishment of community mental health services. These services could include community mental health centers, psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support, and supported living services. Furthermore, he advocated for mental health care delivery in non-health settings, such as child protection, school health services, and prisons.