Mental illness on the rise in Uganda

By Francis Kagolo 

EXPERTS have called for the integration of mental health care into HIV care and treatment and the general primary health care (PHC).

This after it was discovered that mental illness is increasing across the country especially among people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the principal medical officer for mental health in the ministry of health, said the number of mental cases reported to health facilities increased by 17,000 between 2009 and 2012.

She attributed the trend to previous conflicts and urbanization which has pushed many people into gambling and repeated borrowing, alcohol and drug abuse.

At least 56% of Ugandans living with HIV are depressed, with symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, not wanting to eat, and always feeling tired.

Other symptoms include sadness, and feeling weighted down with troubled thoughts. Although not common, some people find depression so painful that they want to end their life. 

“Our research in Uganda has found that upon entrance into HIV care, 13% of people living with HIV are clinically depressed and 56% have elevated depressive symptoms,” Dr Glenn Wagner.

Depression is more rampant among HIV patients who do not work compared to their employed counterparts, according to the research. 

The experts were addressing the press at Mildmay Uganda main offices along Entebbe Road Tuesday.

Mildmay is partnering with the Psychiatric department of Makerere University and the Rand Corporation of the US to study the level and impact of depression among people with HIV.

The research, involving over 1,998 patients at HIV clinics mainly in Buganda, aims to establish an effective model for integrating depression treatment into HIV care across the country. 

The doctors want the ministry to retool all health workers so as to integrate mental care into HIV care and treatment and the general primary health care.  

“A health worker is trained to treat people not diseases. They, including lower cadre workers, should be able to diagnose all conditions of a patient and offer holistic treatment. They can refer the special cases,” said Prof. Seggane Musisi, the head of Makerere’s psychiatric department. 

Ndyanabangi said, if adopted, this would avert duplication of efforts and resources wastage. “A simple person from the village cannot come to an HIV clinic and expect him to again move to a mental or TB clinic which might be far away. This is the reason we call for integration to offer holistic treatment,” she added. 

However, the shortage of Psychiatrists remains the key challenge. With a population of 35 million people, Uganda has only 34 Psychiatrists, according to said Prof. Musisi.