Afrigather WHO Namibia supported the Council of Church buildings in Namibia (CCN) seminar on psychological well being to boost consciousness on psychological well being promotion and suicide prevention amongst the church and group leaders and mobilize efforts in help of psychological well being care at group stage. The seminar with church leaders, lay counselors and youth leaders was held on 15 and 16 November as a part of the World Psychological Well being Day commemoration.
The African Area has the very best suicide fee on this planet, estimated at 11.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019, in comparison with a worldwide common of 9.0 per 100,000 based on the Built-in African Well being Observatory reality sheet on suicide within the African Area. Equally, the suicide fee for males is the very best at 18 per 100,000 inhabitants within the Area in comparison with 12.4 per 100,000 inhabitants globally.
WHO estimates Namibia suicide fee to be 9.7 in a 100,000 inhabitants. That is the fourth highest in comparison with neighboring South Africa (23.5), Botswana (16.10) and Zimbabwe (14.1). ‘Psychological well being is intrinsic and instrumental to the lives of all folks. It influences how we expect, really feel and act. It underpins our capacity to make selections, construct relationships and form the world we dwell in. Psychological well being can be a fundamental human proper. And it’s essential to non-public, group and socio-economic improvement. It is part of us, on a regular basis, even when we’re not occupied with it’ WHO AFRO 2022.
Talking on the opening ceremony of the seminar, Dr Ester Muinjangue, Deputy Minister of Well being and Social Companies stated that the upsurge in psychological well being circumstances is a disaster main to extend in suicide charges. Between January 2020 and June 2021, Namibia reported 745 suicides whereas 1172 folks tried or considered taking their very own life. The Ministry of Well being and Social Companies reported 679 suicides (559 males, 91 ladies and 29 youngsters). The kids who dedicated suicide embrace 18 boys and 11 women.
The Deputy Minister expressed her appreciation to the CCN for orienting spiritual and different group leaders on psychological well being. She stated that ‘as soon as empowered with information and abilities; church buildings can meet the federal government and all well being service suppliers half-way as they will educate the congregations and ensure they perceive psychological well being circumstances, empower these with psychological diseases on how you can dwell positively and supply help to relations and buddies of these coping with psychological well being issues.’
Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Consultant, in a speech learn on his behalf by Mrs. Celia Kaunatjike, WHO’s Well being Promotion and Social Determinants Officer, stated that COVID-19 has interrupted important psychological well being providers world wide together with Namibia simply after they had been wanted most. He emphasised the position of the church in offering psycho-social help and expressed appreciation for the seminar that goals to equip leaders with abilities and information on how you can present first line help to group members who may have emotional help.
He stated that the ‘pandemic elevated demand for psychological well being providers. Bereavement, isolation, lack of earnings and worry skilled through the pandemic triggered psychological well being circumstances or exacerbated current ones. Many individuals had been confronted with elevated ranges of alcohol and drug use, insomnia, and anxiousness.’ These could have long run impression on psychological well being, and church leaders are a essential stakeholder in creating protected areas for group members to succeed in out and obtain skilled assist.
The appearing Secretary Normal of the Council of Church buildings, Mr Ludwig Beukes stated that the ‘church is near the folks and other people really feel extra comfy to speak to a Pastor about their each day challenges. The workshop is subsequently a possibility for stakeholders working in the neighborhood to be capacitated with information on psychological well being and the growing fee of suicide within the nation. The workshop can even allow church leaders to speak about psychological well being and suicide of their church buildings, sermons, bible examine teams, youth teams and improve entry to psychological well being take care of these of their church buildings.’
The Ministry of Well being and Social Companies made a presentation on psychological well being and suicide prevention and supplied steering on the position of group leaders in offering psycho-social help. CCN intends to coach extra spiritual leaders and ultimately set up a community of psychological well being coaches of their member church buildings.
