Amidst the many unresolved issues like unemployment and climate change in Uganda, one issue has recently surfaced in the media–mental health disorders and the number of Ugandans it currently affects. According to the Ministry of Health and Uganda Counselling Association, about 14 million people with mental health disorders in the country.

In a country striving to thrive in different aspects, the constant economic strain contributes to these various mental health disorders. Like any other African country, Uganda is a country whose citizens hold strong beliefs in societal norms and traditions. How a matter is first perceived depends heavily on these norms, which is why mental health is still such a delicate topic in Uganda. Before considering the facts and the scientific perceptions, society’s opinion takes precedence. Uganda’s culture still underrates mental health, although madness is appreciated because of its external presentation. Ideas like depression and other milder mental health issues are generally disregarded as they don’t seem to be normal motions. More severe issues like madness are tied to spiritual causes and evil spirits, making it difficult for people to relate with the sufferer because of fear that the problem could be transferred to them.

"Studies show that the majority of Ugandan trained doctors work abroad because of the meagre and often delayed payment, lack of adequate working equipment exacerbated by long working hours."

Uganda’s heterogeneous culture brings different norms and traditions that make it challenging to appreciate mental health disorders as they are. After successfully fighting one misconception, more surface. For such a problem, it is vital to enlighten traditional leaders from different tribes about mental health issues to support the promotion of mental health in society. To be able to solve a problem, understanding a community and their values is essential if any kind of monumental results are to be achieved.

It is also important to note that mental health disorders are not mutually exclusive to a particular group of people, but rather their chances are higher in some groups of people compared to others. Some of the groups likely to suffer from mental disorders include people living in poverty, victims of violence, women, and the elderly. Note that these groups of people constitute the majority of people in Uganda. The mental disorders are majorly attributed to the stresses that come with failing to meet their responsibilities and lacking a support system to share their burdens. The ability of people to express their grievances and complaints in a judgement-free environment is a very cost-efficient way to battle mental health issues. It is cost-efficient because it can be done on a one-to-one basis and without charges, this calls for people to lend open ears to whoever would like to express any heartache to them. It is said that a problem shared is a problem half solved.

There is another group of people whose mental health issues tend to be ignored, and that is men! Ugandan men have been victims of stigma concerning mental health disorders because of their gender roles in society. Their roles like being the main family provider and protector do not leave room for most of these men to be vulnerable or be perceived as weak. That explains the higher prevalence of severe mental health disorders in men than women.

As a way forward, it is vital to create awareness about mental health from the grass root levels like homes, communities, schools, hospitals, places of worship, among others. That way, people will be more comfortable seeking for help without being scared of how society will perceive them. Creating awareness involves providing the right information to people who then start taking proper action about an issue. Awareness can spark the creation of support groups that are crucial towards fighting mental health disorders. Support group enable people find new ways to deal with issues. Once again, a society can’t accept or fight what they don’t understand.