Celebration of Mental Health day in Uganda took place on Friday November 25, 2016 at the ministry of health headquarters in Kampala.

That was more than a month after the recognized World Mental Health day that is celebrated on October 10. In contrast to World Aids day national celebrations held in Kalangala district, the Mental Health celebrations were really low-key and hardly got the deserved media coverage. Could stigma be the reason? How was stigma fought in the HIV/Aids case?

The mental health message would probably be better received on such a day. The global theme: Hands Up for HIV Prevention for commemoration of World Aids day contextualized to our national setting as Joining Hands to Scale Up HIV Prevention sunk in well.

On the other hand, the theme this year, as chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), was Dignity in Mental Health: Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for All. This may be understood differently by the general public and those in the mental health profession. The concept of psychological and mental health first aid dates far back to the aftermath of the Second World War.

However, it was not promoted then, probably due to mental health stigma. It is basically about preventing and managing mild conditions. Help is to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. There are great testimonies from Ugandan soldiers who served in Somalia on the usefulness of mental health first aid.

Mental and neurological disorders are responsible for approximately 14 percent of the global burden of disease. By 2030, depression is likely to be the highest contributor to the global burden of disease, more than the non-communicable diseases and HIV/Aids depression which has risen sharply particularly among the youth and in many cases leading to suicides.

Mental disorders can be reduced by application of mental health first aid. Many factors can be attributed to the increase in mental health diagnoses in Uganda. About 6.8 million people have some form of mental illness ranging from depression, anxiety, to schizophrenia. A systematic review completed by the World Health Organisation in 2009 supported psychological mental health first aid use.

One in four adults will experience mental health difficulties at one time in life but will receive little or no help, especially in emergency situations. The world is going through a crisis. There are many disasters, wars and migration is a growing problem. The influx of refugees from South Sudan as well as Burundi to Uganda calls for more attention in their mental health in the various resettlement areas.

The basics of psychological and mental health first aid are needed in these situations to prevent deterioration as well as improve mental health. Psychological first aid should be complemented with other essential mental health and psychosocial activities.

Mental health crises and distress are viewed differently because of stigma and discrimination, among others. There is need for mental health promotion amongst Ugandans. A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are doing well on this front.

Early this year, the joint World Bank/ World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting in Washington DC, USA, entitled Out of the Shadows: Making Mental Health a Global Development Priority emphasized the need to give mental health due attention and make efforts towards its visibility in communities just like the fight against HIV/Aids. The general public, professionals, government, and NGOs have to get the message clearly for it to work.

Psychological and mental health first aid should be provided to distressed individuals in the same way it is done in physical health crises. The importance of mental health first aid should be understood as we know that there is no health without mental health.

People should be empowered to promote mental health. The Mental Health Bill, 2014, currently before the health committee of parliament, should be given the attention it deserves.

The different stakeholders should be consulted and their views considered. The increasing levels of mental health challenges call for a different approach, not business as usual.

The author is the acting coordinator of Heartsounds, Uganda.