Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital has explained the complaints of alleged maltreatment of patients at the facility raised by several social media users. Dr. Juliet Nakku, the Executive Director of the hospital told journalists at a press briefing on Monday that the treatment mechanisms employed by the …
Read More »World Cup fever
Why supporting your favorite team may be boosting your mental health too Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Being a sports fan can bring a sense of belonging and community. A new book by sports fans found that while 61% of Americans report experiencing loneliness, non-fans are lonelier than fans. Whether …
Read More »Dogs offer psychosocial support to war trauma survivors in Northern Uganda
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Francis Okello Oloya, a visually impaired victim of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in Northern Uganda is using dogs to treat war trauma among returnees, survivors, and ex-servicemen. Oloya, through the Comfort Dog Project under the Big Fix Uganda in Gulu city, identifies …
Read More »MPs summon Mao over directive to have mentally ill suspects face trial
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has summoned the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao to explain his directive to subject 26 suspects on remand with questionable mental health, to stand trial over alleged capital offences. This stems from a list of 26 …
Read More »Youths in Northern Uganda turn to sports to raise awareness of mental health
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health activists and youths in Northern Uganda are turning to football to create awareness of mental health problems. The idea stems from the reported increase in mental health cases among the youth in Northern Uganda and several districts of the Acholi sub-region. Led by Children …
Read More »Rwanda reports increase in mental health disorders among patients
Kigali, Rwanda | Xinhua | Cases of mental health disorders have increased in Rwanda since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Health said Monday. At least 7,817 patients consulted for depression at Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital from January to August, higher than 1,743 that were recorded last year, …
Read More »WHO launches suicide awareness campaign in Africa
Brazzaville, Congo | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) launched Thursday a campaign to raise awareness and spur action for suicide prevention in the African region, which has the world’s highest rates of death by suicide. Around 11 people per 100,000 per year die by suicide in the African region, …
Read More »Lawmakers urge gov’t to increase funding for mental health services
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MPs have adopted a motion, urging government to increase funding for mental and psychiatric care services in the country. The motion, which also called for prioritisation and improvement of mental health and psychiatric care in Uganda was moved by Aisha Kabanda, Butambala district MP during …
Read More »Unpaid work by women
What is the true impact on their mental health? | THE INDEPENDENT | Over the last several decades, gender roles have evolved and changed to reflect shifting societal norms. Yet, despite these changes, unpaid household labour disparities still exist between partnered men and women worldwide. From cooking and cleaning, to …
Read More »Cooking with ‘dirty’ fuels
It affects women’s mental health, say researchers | MATHEW SHUPLER | About 2.6 billion people – nearly half of the global population, most of them in Africa, Asia and central and south America – rely on biomass fuels, like wood and charcoal, or kerosene to cook meals, heat and light …
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