Resource Mobilization for Mental Health | Remarks by Mr Edward Kallon UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

• Air Commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
• Other Government Officials Present.
• My colleague Prof J M Dangou, WHO Representative.
• National and International Development Partners Present
• Distinguished Guests.
• Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning and thank you for joining us this morning and for your interest in addressing the mental health situation in Zimbabwe.

Let me underline from the beginning that investing in mental health is investing in a better future. Because there is no health without mental health. 

Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis for mental health by fuelling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions.

Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic in 2022. WHO estimated that 1 in 6 working age adults experienced some type of mental disorder.

At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted, and the treatment gap widened.

Today, across the globe, ONE billion people live with a mental health condition. According to the latest World Mental Health Report, 15% of working-age adults experienced a mental disorder and amplifies wider societal issues that negatively affect mental health, including discrimination and inequality.

Bullying and psychological violence (also known as “mobbing”) is a key complaint of workplace harassment that has a negative impact on mental health. Yet discussing or disclosing mental health remains a taboo in work settings globally.

Sadly, however, mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare. Some countries have only two mental health workers for every 100,000 people. The social and economic repercussions of this are profound. 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Zimbabwe’s mental health care system has several strengths and challenges. Zimbabwe has invested in its primary education system, with high literacy rates and high educational attainment.

 The Zimbabwe National Mental Health Policy 2019 – 2023 includes plans and innovations for improving mental health services in the country. In addition to the policy, Zimbabwe has a National Mental Health Strategic Plan  from 2019 – 2023.

In response to the COVID-19 induced psychosocial distress, the Government of Zimbabwe with the support of WHO, UNICEF and other partners mobilized and built capacity of health practitioners to offer psychosocial first aid support.

The United Nations in Zimbabwe, technically led by WHO and UNICEF, has been supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care in public outreach and awareness on mental health through a series of radio talk shows, new content on mental health on UNICEF’s free of access website Internet of Good Things, and a survey on its social messaging platform U-Report.

However, we must strengthen the capacity of health services to offer quality care to those in need, in particular young people. This includes community-based services and integrating support for mental health into broader health and social care. Investing in mental wellbeing means investing in healthy communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Mental health issues can affect everyone, young and old. Recently, the World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organization (ILO) called for concrete actions to address mental health concerns in the working population.

According to research, an estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety and costing the global economy nearly US$ 1 trillion.

We can all play our part in increasing awareness about and advocacy for preventive mental health interventions and address the root causes of mental health conditions, including violence and abuse, alcohol, and drug abuse among our young people.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Investment in mental health remains low, and the stigma surrounding it remains high.

The United Nations in Zimbabwe, therefore, calls on all stakeholders for increased attention on mental health and investments to promote mental wellbeing.

The findings of the Zimbabwe Mental Health Investment case that we are convened to deliberate this morning demonstrates that by investing in mental health now, Zimbabwe could save more than 11,000 lives and gain over 500,000 healthy life years in the next 20 years by reducing the incidence, duration, or severity of mental health conditions.

This would result in drastically reducing the burden on the community and the economy. By investing in Mental Health now, Zimbabwe could gain economic benefits of US$ 175 million in the next 10 years and US$ 689 million in the next 20 years.

Empirical evidence attests that addressing mental health improves other health outcomes, including for non-communicable diseases, HIV, and TB.

I therefore call on all of us to invest and support mental health for healthier, happier, and productive people in Zimbabwe.

The United Nations will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and partners to advance mental health and wellbeing as articulated in SDG3.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the ongoing pursuit to improve the mental health situation in the country. With our joined-up efforts and commitment of adequate resources to translate into action the investment case at hand, I have no doubt that we can improve mental health situation in Zimbabwe.

I look forward to a fruitful deliberations and concrete pledges and commitments this morning.

Thank you.