Mental health services needed in every region - MPs

National Council members have called for mental health services to be made available in every region, particularly in rural areas, as Namibia considers a new mental health bill.

Speaking during a debate on the Mental Health Bill, Bill No. 8 of 2025, members said the proposed legislation would bring mental health services closer to communities instead of relying mainly on facilities in Windhoek and Oshakati.

Member of parliament Andreas Amundjindi said government currently has only two facilities accommodating people with mental health conditions, one in Windhoek and another in Oshakati.

The facilities were described as overcrowded, with Windhoek Central accommodating patients from nine regions.

He called for additional facilities, particularly in Kabango East, to serve people from Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi. A facility was also proposed for Hardap to serve residents from Hardap and ||Kharas while reducing the cost of transporting patients and making it easier for family members to visit them.

No specialists

MP Vilho Nuunyango stressed that it is important for each region to have mental health facilities, especially in rural areas, so that people can access services closer to home. The debate also highlighted a shortage of specialists.

In Oshakati, parliamentarians pointed out that there is no clinical psychologist in the psychiatric department, raising concerns about how patients could receive appropriate treatment without the necessary professionals.

"It is to protect human rights and dignity and address real challenges," said Nuunyango. Members described the bill as a shift from an approach focused on confinement towards one centred on healing, support and reintegration, while protecting the dignity and rights of people with mental health conditions.