World Mental Health Day celebration 2012
Lesotho commemorated World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2012 at Mohlomi Hospital under this year’s theme “Depression, a global crisis”.
The theme offered the opportunity to focus on how Lesotho can best work together to reduce the burden of mental illness and individual sufferings resulting from depression. The celebration included a fun walk, drama and singing by staff and patients.
The function was attended by the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Pinkie Manamolela, WHO Representative to Lesotho, Dr. Jacob Mufunda, Director of Clinical services, Dr. Peit McPherson, government officials and other development partners, mental health advocates, the community and the media.
In her statement, the Honorable Minister, Dr. Pinkie Manamolela, emphasized that depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities. She indicated that women are more affected by depression than men because they are facing financial problems, divorce and abuse. Dr. Pinkie urged the public to work together to support people who are affected by mental health disorders.
Dr. Manamolela made a plea, especially to Basotho students, to take up any opportunity to study mental health as Lesotho is lacking adequate mental health professionals to provide efficacious and cost-effective treatment to improve the health and the lives of people in the country. Dr. Manamolela con-cluded her remarks by expressing her appreciation to all those involved in preparation and supporting the day.
Speaking at the same occasion, the WHO Representative to Lesotho, Dr. Mufunda emphasized that depression is a common and very serious mental disorder that can affect all of us as individuals. Dr. Mufunda concluded that WHO will continue to work with health care leaders to create options for managing and treating depression and that Lesotho should have programmes in place to help people with mental health problems.
“Any one of us at one stage or another of our lives can experience depression, therefore I urge you to understand the circumstances in or around the issue of depression,” said Dr Mufunda.
A member of the Mental Health Association, Mrs. Ramahlele, highlighted that the association provides quality early intervention mental health services and programs that support the community to make connections, develop mental health literacy and participate in employment as a foundation for recovery. She emphasized that the association is open for everyone who is willing to help people who have mental problems because people with mental disorders need support and extra care from family, the community and peers.
One former patient, Mr. Kopo, thanked the hospital for the treatment given to him because when he came to the hospital, he did not even speak. He urged them to keep doing a good job that will benefit other Basotho just like him because if he was not helped, he could have died a long time ago.
