Zimbabweans in denial over mental effects of crisis
By Violet Gonda
27 August 2007
A number of Zimbabweans were up in arms after it was reported that a survey by the World Health Organisation claimed that 40 percent of Zimbabweans suffer from “mental disorders.” The principle author of the study, Dickson Chibanda who is a consultant psychiatrist with the Ministry of Health, has said there is no national survey that has ever been carried out on common mental disorders in the country.
He said his findings had been “distorted” saying the survey was only carried out in Harare’s Mbare high-density suburb. He said: “We are not actually saying 40% of people are mentally ill. No what we are saying is that 40% of those who are coming into the clinics are at risk of having common mental disorders and this whole thing has been taken out of context. It’s quite unfortunate.”
The psychiatrist was quoted in South African papers and Zimbabwean online websites last week saying: "In Zimbabwe latest data on common mental disorders indicated prevalence close to 40 percent. Operation Murambatsvina caused a lot of mental disorders to those who were forced out of their homes."
But Independent MP for Tsholotsho Professor Jonathan Moyo told the NewZimbabwe.com website: “This wacky claim is not only a typical example of the common and always nauseating feature of exaggerated commentary on the situation in Zimbabwe from certain desperate quarters with malicious interests, but it also scales a new ludicrous height in that regard.”
Moyo went on to say: “Otherwise you don’t need a rocket scientist to realise that the intended subtext of the bizarre claim is that there will be no reform led by Zimbabweans ostensibly because nearly half of them have left the country and 40% of those remaining have gone mad while their country is steadily becoming a total mental asylum.”
Another MP Nelson Chamisa from the Tsvangirai MDC is quoted by the same online publication saying: “While it is true we experienced negative consequences from Operation Murambatsvina and other crazy government projects, it is an exaggeration that we have gone mad as a nation.
Observers believe that it’s because of this negative reaction and possible government influence that has resulted in the psychiatrist making a u-turn.
Experts say the reactions show the general misconception of what mental disorder is, because people assume that it means a person is ‘mad’. The term ‘mental’ disorder refers to stress and depression related issues, and you could say that stress and depression are perfectly normal responses to the tragic situation in Zimbabwe.
In a country where people are routinely arrested, tortured, beaten, harassed, abducted and generally threatened by the state, it is hardly surprising that we now have a population that lives a constantly fearful life.
The last seven years have seen social structures and families being destroyed. It has become survival of the fittest in Zimbabwe, leaving people desperately trying to find coping measures. The country has seen a huge increase in the numbers fleeing to neighboring countries. Many of those who remain are flocking to churches to find solace, while many others are drowning their sorrows in beer. Delta Beverages general manager George Mutendadzamera said in a statement: "We have witnessed an unprecedented demand for our lager beer products. Average sales are rising fast and approaching 300 000 litres per day level."
He is quoted in the Star Newspaper saying this is a "worrying trend of alcohol abuse. This is an unacceptable trend with potentially serious consequences on our society.”
Ordinary Zimbabweans are trapped in a country that has virtually run out of food, fuel, water, electricity and water. Most people are forced to walk to work because they can’t afford the high transport costs while others are literally killing each other in food queues as they wait for much needed food. And let’s not forget the more than one million AIDS orphans. Children alone and struggling to cope in a hostile climate.
Even statistics published by the Herald newspaper recently show that murder cases have gone up in the country. The paper said nearly 50 people were murdered in Masvingo — mostly at beer drinking places — in the first half of this year. This is a lot of murders for a small town.
Experts say people are in denial about the many aspects of mental disorders, when they should show empathy and concern. The question for these experts is how to rebuild people’s mental health, when the crisis finally ends.
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