11 Sep 2019

Ghanzi Council Chief physical planner, Mr Nchunga Kanyenvu has said it is important for  every household to know how to handle a person with depression disorder.

Speaking during walk against depression campaign at Ghanzi recently, Mr Kanyenvu said depression needed immediate attention to avoid recurrence or worsening  of the illness.

He said depression disorder could bring severe repercussions, if a person with depression disorder did not get necessary attention well in time.

Mr Kanyenvu said alcohol and drug abuse, loss of loved ones and other life stressors, contributed to depression disorder and other  mental diseases.

The chief physical planner said mental illness was marked by hopeless feeling, staying awake at night and being suicidal.   

He said the World Health Organization (WHO) had projected unless interventions were made, mental health illness would be the leading disease by 2030.

Mr Kanyenvu underscored that mental illness did not only draw huge amounts of money from government’s purse but negatively impacted on productivity at work and performance at school.

The illness, he said also burdened health sectors and life in general.

As such, he said there should be a shared responsibility to combat the illness.

He said it was motivating to see the youth taking the leading role in sensitising the community about the illness.

A representative of Botswana Network for Mental health, Ms Kiki Kennedy who shared that she  had suffered from major depression disorder in 2018, said people should be imparted with knowledge about the illness as well as how to cope with life stressors.

Ms Kennedy said mental health awareness campaigns should be intensified to reach every household including the rural dwellers thus, she called for volunteer to spread the message.

She said strong support structures could help patients to handle the mental health challenges before going out of hand.

The attendants were enlightened about the mental illness disorder and how to handle mental illness patients. ENDS