SPEECH FOR THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH HONOURABLE SYLVIA MASEBO ON THE LAUNCH OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 10TH OCTOBER 2023

1. PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HEALTH
2. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
3. DIRECTOR CHAINAMA HOSPITAL
4. DIRECTOR SOCIAL SERVICES
5. DIRECTOR ZAMBIAN PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY
6. DIRECTOR SPECIAL CLINICS UTH
7. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
8. MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

I AM GREATLY HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THIS YEARS LAUNCH OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, WHOSE THEME IS “MENTAL HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT”. WE KNOW THAT HARMFUL BARRIERS TO GOOD MENTAL HEALTH STILL EXIST IN OUR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND WORKPLACES. TODAY WE INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US BY PLEDGING TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND RESPECT MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ORDINARILY WHEN WE HEAR THE TERM “MENTAL HEALTH”, WE ALIGN IN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MENTAL DISABILITY AND ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING. THIS IS A WRONH ASSUMPTION. MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ASPECT THAT IS WITH ALL OF US.

PREVIOUSLY IT WAS REPORTED THAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THOSE WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL DISABILITIES EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER RATES OF POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND REDUCED LIFE EXPECTANCY. STIGMA IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT DETERMINANT OF QUALITY CARE AND ACCESS TO THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES IS REQUIRED.

UNDER THE ABLE LEADERSHIP OF HIS EXCELLENCY, MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, AND IN LINE WITH THE 8^TH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN GOVERNMENTS RESOLVE IS TO ENSURE THAT INTERVENTIONS WITH REGARDS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, ARE STRENGTHENED AND THAT UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, WE INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE MANAGEMENT. MENTAL HEALTH IS RECOGNIZED IN THE SDGS AS IT RELATES TO WELLBEING, WORKER SAFETY, HOUSING, INCLUSIVITY, DISCRIMINATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE CONNECTIONS RECOGNIZE THE BURDEN OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE AS A PRIORITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

DISCRIMINATION, HARMFUL STEREOTYPES AND STIGMA IN THE COMMUNITY, FAMILY, SCHOOLS, AND THE WORKPLACE PREVENT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND THE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS NEEDED FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN,

MENTAL HEALTH MUST BE SQUARELY PLACED IN A HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK  IN-ORDER TO RE-CAST THE ASPIRATION FOR SOUND MENTAL HEALTH AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT. ENSURING ACCESS TO BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS, SECURITY, FOOD, SHELTER AND HOUSING ARE ALL NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH. I WANT TO EMPHASISE THAT, MENTAL HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO ALL CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY. CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES OFTEN EXPOSE PEOPLE TO EXTREMELY DISTRESSING EVENTS. PEOPLE LOSE LOVED ONES, HOMES AND LIVELIHOODS. MANY FACE SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN DIGNITY, SUCH AS TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. LEFT UNTREATED, THESE HIDDEN WOUNDS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS AND LONG-TERM HARM TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND ENTIRE SOCIETIES.

MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMMES ARE SOME OF THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY CAN HAVE A PRICELESS IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN DELIVERED EARLY AFTER A CALAMITY HAS OCCURED.AS WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY, I URGE ALL OF US TO TAKE NOTE THAT ALL OF US REQUIRE A GOO AND HEALTHY MENTAL STATE. THIS CAN ONLY BE DERIVED FROM AN ATOMOSPHERE OF PEACE 7 CONTENTMENT THAT COMES FROM WITHIN, DESPITE THE HAPPENINGS AROUND US.

SECONDLY, IF ONE IS MENTALLY AFFECTED, WHETHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, WE ARE ALL AFFECTED AND WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, MENTAL WELL BEING.

REMEMBER, MENTAL HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL RIGHT!

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU.