23 Aug 2022

Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illnesses has been deemed a major barrier to accessing health services.

That, according to a mental health nurse at S’brana Psychiatric Hospital, Ms Thato Mongweotsile, was because stigma amounted to shaming and therefore those affected delayed seeking treatment.

Ms Mongweotsile was speaking at a workshop that aimed to capacitate Batswana on mental health issues in Gaborone on Monday.

She, therefore, called on Batswana to strive to understand mental illness and desist from stigmatising those affected, arguing at the end, stigma did not directly affect individuals only, but also loved ones who supported them.

She added that stigmatising them also contributed to worsening symptoms and reduced likelihood of getting treatment.

“Also, self-stigma will then lead to negative effects such as reduced hope, lower self-esteem including social isolation,” she said.

Ms Mongweotsile further explained that stigma often resulted from lack of understanding, hence the need for Batswana to understand that anything could trigger mental illness, including poor nutrition.

“Therefore, people need to go for regular assessment and counselling on different issues of life to avoid mental illness,” she said.

On S’brana Psychiatric Hospital, Ms Mongweotsile said although it was a referral facility, walk-ins were also welcome for those who needed assessment and subsequent assistance.

“We also offer counselling on various other issues, including marital, financial, substance abuse, family as well as other social related issues,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Mongweotsile said hospital workers were also victims of stigma as they were often called ‘baoki ba ditsenwa’ something she said was demeaning.

For her part, Ms Cathrine Moalosi from Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network (BOSASNet) said mental health did not discriminate because it could affect both the poor and the rich, children as well as grown-ups.

Ms Moalosi said it was, therefore, important that people got educated on mental health and appreciate its effects.

“Mental illness is not witchcraft as some people believe.

Life in general can be stressful, therefore, it is important that all seek help to navigate through life.

It is also important to support those affected and be present because to say ‘go tlaa siama’ is not enough.

People should actually do something meaningful to give a mentally unstable person time to reflect on their situation,” she said.

Ms Agatha Atlholang of Genuine Fitness emphasised the need for people to be emotionally and physically healthy in order for Botswana to attain prosperity as envisioned in Vision 2036 pillar of a healthy nation.

“There is need for one to be healthy in the body, mind and soul.

We all need to attend to the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational and financial wellbeing to promote success in life,” she said. ENDS