Zimbabwe, Harare Several nations, including Zimbabwe, underfund mental health, which is essential to overall health and well-being, and Zimbabwe prioritizes mental wellness. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and WHO conducted a Mental Health Investment Case Report luncheon on April 20, 2023. UN Agencies, funders, and business entities met to consider investment in Zimbabwe’s mental health services.
“Investing in mental health is vital for economic difficulties and general health and well-being. “Mental health is intimately related to physical health, and treating mental health concerns can lead to improved results for other health disorders,” stated WHO Zimbabwe Country Representative Professor Jean-Marie Dangou in his introductory remarks. “Treating depression can enhance outcomes for those with HIV, TB, diabetes, and heart disease,” he said.
Mrs. Danai Charambeni openly spoke about living with Bipolar Affective Disorder during the occasion. Raising mental health awareness reduces stigma and promotes understanding, she said. “Discrimination and social isolation can make it hard for persons with mental health disorders to get the care they need. “Through raising awareness and understanding, we can help eliminate stigma and ensure that individuals with mental health disorders receive the treatment and support they need to lead full lives,” she added.
Dr. Debra Machando, WHO Zimbabwe Mental Health Technical Officer, described Zimbabwe’s Special Initiative for Mental Health. She noted that depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar illness, epilepsy, and alcohol use disorder are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe faces human suffering and a rising public health burden with significant societal and economic consequences from mental illness. These issues cost the patient, their family, and the health system. Problems include premature death, absenteeism, and job performance (presenteeism).
Dr. Florence Baingana, WHO AFRO Regional Adviser for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, presented Zimbabwe’s Mental Health Investment Case. Zimbabwe might profit economically by investing in mental health today. She suggested Zimbabwe may gain more productivity from mental health treatments than the cost of the packages.
Zimbabwe may minimize mental illness by acting today. The investment case shows that evidence-based, cost-effective mental health therapies will improve health and the economy until 2041.
Dr Devora Kestel, WHO Headquarters Director for Mental Health and Substance Use, commended Zimbabwe for its mental health care improvements in her closing remarks. She stressed the need for UN agencies to help Zimbabwe’s mental health efforts. She suggested FAO might manage very toxic pesticides to minimize Zimbabwean suicides.
The WHO’s recent dinner to disseminate the Mental Health Investment Case Study encourages additional investment in this field. It raises awareness of the necessity of investing in mental health today to reap significant returns in 10–20 years.
2021–2022 saw Zimbabwe’s first Mental Health Investment Case. Initially, it assesses the country’s mental health state, including system development obstacles and potential. Second, it provides economic proof of the preventable impact of several major mental, neurological, and drug use disorders. Clinical therapies for six main mental health conditions—depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and alcohol use disorder—and two population-based interventions were calculated for costs, health improvements, and economic advantages (a pesticide ban and a universal school-based socio-emotional learning intervention). The Study closes with suggestions for operationalizing Investment Case results.
