Why mental health?
There is no health without mental health.
Mental illness is common, it is treatable, and it is nobody's fault. Yet for most Ugandans, getting help is still harder than it should be.
The reality
A common condition with an uncommon response.
- 1 in 8
- people in the world live with a mental disorder.
- Half
- of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 14.
- 75%+
- of people with mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment.
- 3rd
- leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 is suicide.
Source: World Health Organization fact sheets.
In Uganda
What stands between people and care.
Most people who struggle never see a professional. Not because help doesn't work, but because it is out of reach.
- 01
Stigma
Mental illness is still mistaken for weakness, laziness or a spiritual problem. Many people hide what they feel rather than risk being judged.
- 02
Distance
Specialist care is concentrated in a few towns. For many families, reaching it means a long, costly journey.
- 03
Cost
Sessions, medication and transport add up. When money is tight, mental health is the first thing to wait.
- 04
Too few professionals
There are far too few trained mental health workers for the number of people who need them.
Know the signs
When to reach out.
Everyone has hard days. If several of these last for weeks, or get in the way of daily life, it's time to talk to someone.
- Sadness or hopelessness that lasts more than two weeks
- Withdrawing from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy
- Big changes in sleep or appetite
- Constant worry, panic or restlessness
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope
- Falling behind at school or work for no clear reason
- Talking about being a burden, or about not wanting to live
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112 now.
For support that can’t wait for an appointment, call or WhatsApp our team.
Recovery is possible
With the right support, people get better.
Therapy, medication and a community that understands can turn a long struggle into a life that works again. That is what we work for, one person at a time.