Health Reporter
Zimbabwe faces a significant mental health crisis, with limited resources and a severe shortage of registered psychologists.
Amidst these challenges, a consultant has proposed an innovative solution: capacitating traditional and faith-based healers to provide psychological support and legal counsel to mental health patients.
The country has only 40 registered psychologists, with 38 in private practice and merely two in the public sector. In contrast, there are over 55,000 registered traditional healers and more than 20,000 registered faith-based healers. This disparity highlights the potential for traditional and faith healers to contribute to mental health care.
Mental health issues affect up to 30% of adults and over 50% of young people in Zimbabwe, according to experts. This has significant implications for productivity and socio-economic activities.
Lead and managing consultant at Vitality Wellness Zimbabwe, Mrs. Edith Maziofa-Tapfuma, emphasized the need to demystify mental health at the AHFoZ Annual Conference in Victoria Falls.
Globally, close to 1 billion people suffer from mental disorders, with depression being a leading cause of disability. Mrs. Maziofa-Tapfuma suggested:
“Probably we should admit traditional and faith healers as psychologists… We need to capacitate them to provide legal counsel and psychological support.”
By integrating traditional and faith healers into the mental health care system, Zimbabwe can:
- Increase access to mental health services
- Leverage existing community networks and trust
- Provide culturally sensitive care
- Address the shortage of registered psychologists
However, this approach requires careful consideration of training, regulation, and collaboration with conventional mental health professionals.
As Zimbabwe seeks solutions to its mental health crisis, embracing traditional and faith healers as partners in care may offer a vital lifeline for those in need.
Zim GBC News©2024