Establishment of National Mental Health Council in offing

DODOMA: THE Ministry of Health plans to establish a National Mental Health Council to provide comprehensive mental health services, Deputy Minister Dr Godwin Mollel told Parliament yesterday.

Dr Mollel stated that the council will be established before this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10.

This global initiative aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma and advocate for better mental health care.

The day is a global initiative to raise awareness about mental health issues, combat the stigma surrounding mental illness and advocate for improved mental health care and support systems.

The deputy minister’s announcement came in response to a question from Iringa Urban MP Jesca Msambatavangu (CCM), who expressed concern about the Controller and Auditor General’s (CAG) observation that persistent mental health problems in the country are due to the lack of a dedicated council.

“Each time we have been promised that the council is in the offing, so what are the government plans to have this council introduced?’’ asked the lawmaker.

Responding, the deputy minister provided commitment that the government will have the council introduced any time soon.

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During her main question, Ms Msambatavangu had wanted to know if there were plans so far to employ mental health experts to curb the shortage.

Responding, Dr Mollel noted that in 2024 alone, the government had recruited 56 new employees at the Dodoma-based Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital (MNMHH).

“Equally, in dealing with mental health problems, the government conducted capacity building workshops to 2,980 experts drawn from 710 centres so that they can improve service delivery,’’ he said.