Doctor slams gossip and mockery of mental illness

Gossiping or turning people’s mental health conditions into social media fodder can make them sicker, health ministry chief medical officer Dr Beata Siteketa has warned.Speaking at the World Mental Health Day commemoration in Nkurenkuru on Friday, she said people “talk and take it to TikTok” instead of listening and offering help.She urged the public and health professionals to protect the dignity and privacy of people with mental health conditions and to respond with compassion rather than gossip and ridicule.“We need to listen and try to understand the problem,” she said, adding that the priority should be offering solutions and assistance rather than belittling others.“This spread of rumours, gossip or mocking about mentally ill patients might even make this person more mentally unwell,” she warned.“Let us listen more, judge less and act with compassion,” Siteketa said. “When lived experiences are heard, lives can change. When lives change, families become stronger, and when families become stronger, our entire region becomes stronger,” she added.The warning came as people with lived experience of mental health conditions described mistreatment by relatives and difficulties finding work because of stigma.Some were reluctant to appear on camera, fearing that disclosing their experiences publicly could expose them to further discrimination and rejection.Their accounts showed how stigma can follow people into their homes and workplaces, undermining their dignity and making it harder for them to find acceptance and support.The commemoration was held under the theme ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’.Listen and understandSiteketa urged families and communities to recognise when someone needs professional help and guide them towards appropriate support.“Sorry, what you’re telling me, I might not be able to assist. Maybe we need to go to someone more specialised,” she said.She stressed that tackling mental health stigma requires more than support from hospitals and clinics, calling on families and communities to create safe spaces where people can speak openly and seek help without fear of humiliation.Siteketa said mental health is influenced by multiple factors, including poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, social isolation, family challenges and limited opportunities.These pressures can affect people regardless of their age, background or social standing, making understanding and accessible support essential.Stronger systemsVice President Lucia Witbooi has called for urgent and sustained efforts to strengthen mental health services, citing continued discrimination, mistreatment and exclusion of patients.Speaking at the Windhoek Central Hospital Mental Health Centre on Saturday, Witbooi said people living with mental health conditions must be included in decisions affecting their lives and treated with dignity.The health ministry reported more than 100 000 mental health service contacts in the 2024/2025 reporting period, comprising about 91 500 outpatient consultations and 11 400 inpatient admissions.The figures reflect only people who accessed services, not everyone struggling with mental health challenges without treatment or adequate support.Witbooi said listening to people with lived experience was essential to improving mental healthcare. She encouraged patients to share their stories to challenge harmful stereotypes and help others seek assistance.“Our stories are not just narratives of struggle; they are blueprints for a better system,” she said.-desmarius@nma.com.na &amp; tuyeimo@nmh-hub.com.na

Doctor slams gossip and mockery of mental illness

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

Please login to leave a comment

Doctor slams gossip and mockery of mental illness

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content