Clive Thabo Dube and Angela Nothando Mlotshwa
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS has held Zimbabwe by the throat and the Catholic Youths from Bulawayo have heeded the call by Ingutsheni Mental Hospital and stretched out their hands to assist the institution.
In recent times, there has been an increase in admitted patients at the hospital due to the abuse of drugs and other substances. Most of the patients admitted at Ingutsheni Hospital are young persons who are supposed to be productive.
The causes of mental health challenge emanate a ripple effect of drug and substance abuse, neglect, unemployment, child abuse, boredom and some mental illness cases which are hereditary.
Seeing the skyrocketing numbers of mental health patients especially the youths admitted on drug and substance abuse at the mental institution, Youths from the Catholic Holy Family Parish accompanied by their Archbishop Alex Thomas on Tuesday visited Ingutsheni Psychiatric Hospital.
The visit was in spirit towards donating foodstuffs and attain knowledge on the types of drugs which has led many youths astray. The local psychiatric hospital has been facing food shortages for months and accommodates 90% of youthful patients owing to drug addiction.
“The Youth of the Holy Family Parish told me that they are undertaking this noble task of coming to see the reality of drugs and also to learn about it. So I thought, let me come and encourage them to keep away from such kind of danger. For that reason, the youths were then given a lecture on the effects of drugs by one of the workers at the psychiatric hospital.
“For the last two years, we have been talking about drug and substance abuse, and we have been holding workshops, doing campaigns, and educating.” Said Archbishop Alex Thomas.
The Parish Priest in attendance, Priest Sony Xavier said the initiative by the Roman Catholic Church is to urge today’s generation to be front liners to tackle the issue of drug abuse.
“We have seen that today’s youths in the country are facing this issue of drug and alcohol abuse. We thought that as a group of people from the Catholic church to come and give these people an awareness scene so they can go and then speak about it so that we keep vigilant in our communities against this evil in society. We also thought that we help our people who are in need here.” He said.
Priest Xavier added that “unemployment or being left without any activities is what pushes the youth to take drugs. I think that there is a need to push for life skills activities into the minds of the youth.
Edward Magagula, the youth leader of the Bulawayo Archdiocese who spearheaded the campaign said they held this event to be able to learn and be able to teach the future generation to choose between good and bad.
“We are trying to alert abasakhulayo because indaba yamadrugs ingathi seyinengi. We first thought of donating then learn one or two things about drugs before we go and teach others on what is happening.” Said Magagula.
The donations included 20kg rice, 4kg surf, 8Litres of cooking oil, 240kgs Mealie meal, 20 kg flour, and 4 bags of clothes.
One of the youth leaders from the Holy Family Parish said the local mental institution which covers the whole of the Southern Region has helped a lot of youths. Hence it is wise to give back an appreciation.
“It’s a charity event that we planned as a Parish ukuthi sizongceda njengabantu esingcedwayo yisigaba lesi. This institution financed abanye be that have been abusing drugs and we notice ukuthi there is a shortage in terms of food, they have called for help many times so that lathi sasesilalela.” Nyasha Moyo said.
Mental illness, substance, and drug abuse are intertwined and when it comes to finding ways to get intoxicated or high, inventions never seem to run dry. Many have found ways to make alcoholic concoctions out of soft drinks and cereals. This was revealed by one of the participants Ray Millagre Langa who said this challenge is wreaking havoc in communities.
“We have come as a Parish with the Youths so that we have first-hand experience of the challenges which people who are addicts and suffering from drug abuse-related disorders are facing. Drugs have an impact on our mental health well being, physical well-being, and our general lives…new drugs are being made out of geisha, pampers are being smoked, and soap is now used to smoke. Cerevita and Mazoe when mixed and left to ferment can be a drug.” Said Mallagre.
Matron Konsati headed the tour in the mental institution and thanked
Archbishop Alex Thomas, the Holy Family Parish and the youth for sparing a thought, and giving out a helping hand.