Bulawayo Faces Mental Health Crisis: Suicides Surge Amidst Stigma and Limited Services

Mental health experts have attributed this alarming trend to a variety of factors including undiagnosed mental health conditions, discrimination, stigma, and lack of accessible mental health services.

This is after Mpilo Central Hospital has recently reported a shocking 245 percent increase in suicide attempts, with the most affected age group being youth under 30.

A mental health expert, Blessing Masola highlighted the importance of recognizing and addressing undiagnosed mental health conditions among the youth.

Symptoms

“A lot of people are living with symptoms of mental health conditions without receiving the necessary support or treatment,” Masola stated.

This lack of support, coupled with the pressures of daily life such as childhood trauma, unemployment, family issues, and relationship problems, can lead individuals to feel overwhelmed and resort to drastic measures like suicide attempts.

Furthermore, Masola emphasised the need to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

“As the youth, we still frown upon therapy and talking about our emotions. We need to provide support for each other and create a safe space for discussing mental health,” Masola explained.

Stigmatisation

Discrimination and stigmatisation within the community can prevent individuals from seeking help and exacerbate their mental distress.

Another contributing factor to the rise in suicide attempts is the limited access to mental health services. Masola noted that some individuals perceive therapy as expensive and opt for unhealthy coping mechanisms instead. This highlights the need for more affordable and accessible mental health resources in Zimbabwe.

Another mental health expert, Bongiwenkosini Zulu, added that societal pressures like economic instability, social media influence, and the lack of emotional education contribute to mental distress among the youth.

Zulu emphasised the importance of teaching individuals how to process their emotions, deal with failure, and manage stress in a healthy manner.

Gender Disparity

Zulu also pointed out the gender disparity in suicide rates, with men more likely to choose violent means of self-harm. This is further compounded by the limited number of mental health professionals available to address the increasing demand for mental health services.

Despite these challenges, mental health initiatives such as the Africa Healing Foundation and Friendship Bench are working towards bridging the gap in mental health care by providing accessible counselling services to those in need.

An activist for women’s and children’s rights and youth advocate, Michelle Ncube believes drug and substance abuse contribute to suicide attempts in Bulawayo.

Pain and Drugs

She said, “Most people believe drugs make pain easy as people go through many struggles, conflicts at home, peer pressure, dysfunctional families but those drugs the more you do them the more you lose self esteem, feel worthless and the more you see that life is really hard.”

As the numbers of suicide attempts continue to rise in Zimbabwe, it is crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and the community to come together to address the root causes of mental distress and ensure that adequate support and resources are available for those struggling with their mental health.

Normalising conversations about mental health and improving access to mental health services are essential steps towards preventing further tragedies among the youth in Zimbabwe.