Mental health challenges are increasing in Kasese District, with young people and adolescents emerging as the most affected group.
Local stakeholders attribute the growing crisis to early pregnancies, domestic violence, drug abuse, and negative peer influence, particularly in schools. Health workers, educators, and law enforcement officers are calling for urgent, coordinated action to reverse the trend.
According to ASP Jane Ngelese, head of the Child Protection Unit at Kasese Central Police, addressing mental health problems in the district requires a multi-pronged approach that tackles the underlying causes of distress among young people.
“Ending early pregnancies and domestic violence would significantly reduce mental illness in the community,” she said, adding that police are conducting awareness campaigns to sensitize residents about the dangers of untreated mental health conditions.
ASP Ngelese revealed that more than 10 suicide cases have been recorded in Kasese in the past nine months, most of them linked to mental illness.
During celebrations to mark International Repair Day at Kasese Primary School, Nakiyini Joan, the team leader at Raising Gabdho Foundation, emphasized the importance of vocational skilling in promoting youth empowerment and mental well-being.
“When young people acquire practical skills, they develop purpose and self-confidence, making them less vulnerable to risky behaviors like substance abuse,” she said.
Observed every October 19, International Repair Day celebrates innovation and the creative reuse of discarded materials to create new opportunities. Nakiyini noted that such initiatives can generate income and hope among youth grappling with unemployment and mental distress.
Ntama Wilson, Chairperson of salon operators in Kasese Municipality, added that skilling programs keep young people engaged and productive, preventing them from falling into destructive habits such as drug use.
At the national level, Uganda’s mental health system remains overstretched, with only 20 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 46 million people. To ease pressure on tertiary facilities like Butabika National Referral Hospital, the Ministry of Health in May introduced a Community Treatment Order (CTO) strategy, which promotes follow-up care within communities and helps reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
As the world marks World Mental Health Day, stakeholders in Kasese are urging greater investment, awareness, and collaboration to support young people and ensure that mental health is recognized as a universal human right.
