Patience Makwele
Health officials in Kavango West have warned the public against dismissing people experiencing mental health difficulties by telling them to “just pray about it”, saying stigma and fear of judgement can discourage people from seeking professional help.
Social worker Veronika Lourens said people struggling with their mental health needed to be heard without judgement instead of having their experiences dismissed as overthinking or a lack of faith.
“One way we can help these people is by listening. And when we are listening, we should listen without judging,” Lourens said.
She said some people were afraid of how their families and communities would react to their mental health conditions, while others faced stigma that made it difficult to speak openly or seek help.
Lourens urged families to take mental health concerns seriously and encourage those affected to seek professional assistance rather than making them feel ashamed of their condition.
She cautioned against responding to people’s struggles by telling them to “just pray about it” or accusing them of overthinking.
Instead, she called for greater awareness in schools, churches and communities to help people understand mental health conditions and support those affected.
The warning comes as patients in Kavango West who need specialised mental health services unavailable locally are referred to facilities in Oshakati and Windhoek.
Dr Klementine Kabono, a senior medical officer in the region, said mental health services were available at clinics, health centres and the hospital, but some patients required specialist treatment that local facilities could not provide.
“We might not have some of these people in our region, but we have a relationship with the intermediate hospital. Patients that we get to diagnose here, and we don’t have the specialist, we refer to the intermediate hospital, even as far as Oshakati and Windhoek Central Hospital, so that they can get their help,” Kabono said.
She said patients could receive medication, psychological support and social assistance in the region, but some interventions, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), were not available locally.
The government has recently announced commitments aimed at expanding mental health services nationally.
Under the plans, newly constructed public and private hospitals at district level and above must include dedicated mental health units in their designs.
The commitments also include having at least five mental health units operational nationwide by March 2037, training more doctors in psychiatry and increasing the mental health budget by at least 4% annually from the 2027 financial year through to 2037.
The plans are intended to address gaps in infrastructure, funding and specialist staffing, although their impact will depend on implementation.
In Kavango West, a new Nkurenkuru District Hospital is also at the planning stage.
An environmental assessment record identifies a proposed hospital development on about 40 hectares of land donated by the Nkurenkuru Town Council.
The project’s listed approval status does not, by itself, confirm that construction has started or that a mental health unit has been included in the final design.
Kabono said health workers in the region were increasingly managing mental health conditions, while social workers were conducting awareness activities in communities and schools.
She also said more patients were returning for follow-up after beginning medication, rather than stopping treatment once their immediate symptoms improved.
“We used to see a lot of patients. They start medications when they come in acutely sick, but then from there they disappear. Then we see a lot of patients that are coming now throughout from when they started, the way they are now very well maintained,” she said.
According to Kabono, some patients who continued with treatment had returned to school or work, highlighting the importance of follow-up care.
National figures presented by the health ministry showed that Namibia recorded 91 544 mental health cases during the 2024/25 financial year, with 11 489 patients admitted for treatment.
The figures underline the demand for services across the country but do not establish the number of cases in Kavango West.
Lourens said communities had a role to play in helping people seek assistance without fear of being judged or isolated.
She urged the public to listen, offer support and guide people towards professional care when needed.
Kabono encouraged people experiencing mental health difficulties to approach their nearest health facility.
“There is treatment that is available, whether medication, socially, or psychological. And of course, our doors are open at every facility of the ministry, and we are there to help you,” she said.
