09 Sep 2026

First Lady Kaone Boko has called for public education on mental health and interventions to curb the condition early.

She said this at the launch of the revamped adolescent ward and therapeutic garden at the Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital at Lobatse on Tuesday.

She further said parents and guardians needed guidance on behaviours to look out for as they might miss changes in their adolescent children, which might lead to mental health conditions.

Adolescents, she said were at a sensitive stage and as such proper parental guidance was critical to ensure that parents identified any early behaviours that might lead them to engage in alcohol and substance abuse.

Therefore, she said her initiative to revamp the adolescent ward came against the backdrop that adolescents faced serious social ills, which included alcohol and substance abuse where some of them ended up requiring psychiatric health care.

She said the revamped facility would make adolescents felt welcome and receive help in a comfortable environment.

She said the therapeutic garden was not only beneficial for the physical health of a patient, but also for their mental well-being.

Ms Boko also encouraged parents to pay attention to all aspects of children’s wellbeing, which included emotional, psychological and not just the physical aspects.

She underscored that child neglect could cause social ills and lead to drug and substance abuse saying as such, parents must exercise caution.

In addition, she urged parents to open up to their children and encourage them to confide in them with their social life as that could go a long way in curbing social ills.

She further implored parents to refrain from selling illicit drugs and substances to children.

In addition, she urged the elderly to refrain from engaging in sexual relationships with youth, which some lead to teenage pregnancies.

She highlighted empowerment and holistic development of boys and young men adding that addressing the challenges they faced, focusing on their well-being and protection was pertinent as statistics reflected that they were the ones who were prone to using drugs.

“If they are not cared for, their anger turns into aggression,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Neo Tapela said revamping the facility was about renewing the commitment to the dignity, wellbeing, mental health and recovery of young patients.

Dr Tapela said it was about creating an environment where adolescents who needed psychiatric help could receive it in safe surroundings, welcoming, nurturing, fit for purpose and healing.

She thus appreciated the office of the First Lady for the intervention.

For his part, Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital Superintendent Dr Joseph Shama said the hospital was opened in 2010, while the adolescent ward was opened to cater for children aged between 11 and 19 in 2022.

He said the male adolescent ward currently had 13 patients adding that the separate and refurbished male ward would enable care takers to manage the young patients effectively.

Lobatse MP, Mr Kamal Jacobs appreciated the gesture by the Office of the First Lady, saying such health care developments directly benefitted the community.

He said every child deserved a secure future, adding that such facilities brought healing, dignity and hope to the youth who would seek service at the facility. ENDS