By Divester Chilole

As one way of addressing challenges surrounding mental health issues, including suicide cases, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), has rolled out an exercise which is aimed at assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of mental health service delivery in the country.

Speaking to YFM MHRC Public Relations Office, Kate Kujaliwa, said the commission wants to establish how different agencies, especially public hospitals, are providing mental health services in accordance to the rights of the people.

MHRC is conducting the exercise in all regions across the country.

Kujaliwa said: “At the end of the exercise the commission wants to notice the gaps and make recommendations towards improving mental health service delivery.”

MHRC is also wants to address myths and misinformation around mental health problems which leads to many people refusing to accept mental health as medical issue but rather connect it to witchcraft or demonic influence therefore refusing medical service.

MHRC has also highlighted that economic and socialcultural issues are among some of the key factors leading to mental health problems.

Stigma and lack of awareness on general mental health problems has also been described as a challenge in the mental health.