Breaking the silence: Confronting Namibia’s mental health emergency
Sarah GorohNamibia is quietly facing a mental health emergency that is claiming lives, dimming futures and impacting entire communities, especially among the youth. Behind every suicide statistic or silent breakdown is a human life, a dream interrupted and a voice that went unheard.
With over 70% of the population under the age of 35, we are a youthful nation. But too many young people are silently battling depression, anxiety, trauma and hopelessness, often with no support, no safe space and no words to express their pain. And while the symptoms are visible in rising suicide rates, substance abuse, and emotional breakdowns, the national response has been slow, fragmented and overshadowed by silence.
What’s behind the crisis?
Mental health struggles don’t happen in a vacuum. They are rooted in a complex mix of social, economic and emotional pressures:Youth unemployment
Poverty and hunger
Gender-based violence
Childhood trauma and abuse
Financial debt
The emotional toll of substance abuse
Family instability and broken support systems
The Covid-19 pandemic only made things worse. Many young people graduated into a job market that had little to offer. Others lost family members, battled isolation, or fell into despair. Without strong mental health systems in place, many suffered silently, and some didn’t survive.
Hundreds of suicide cases are recorded annually, many among those under 35 years of age. But beyond these numbers are the untold stories of emotional exhaustion, unspoken trauma and a public health system that is often out of reach.
The weight of stigmaIn many Namibian communities, mental illness is still seen as weakness, shame or even spiritual punishment. This stigma keeps people, especially men and youth, from speaking up or asking for help. Many are afraid of being judged, mocked or dismissed. The result is a silent crisis. One where people only reach out when it’s too late.
The power of perception: Changing the way we think
Mental health is shaped not only by external pressures but also by how we process and perceive those experiences.
One’s perception creates his or her reality.
What you meditate on becomes what you believe, and often, what you live out. As a life coach, I’ve observed that many of the struggles and limitations people face often originate from their thought patterns. While we may not always have control over what happens to us or around us, we do have the power to choose how these situations affect us internally. When a single thought, whether true or false, is allowed to linger for too long, it eventually shapes the reality of the individual. When people hold on to a preconceived belief that someone or something is standing in the way of their progress, that belief shapes their personal truth, and over time their truth becomes their lived reality.
At the heart of today’s social decay lies a history of negative perceptions that have moulded society’s way of life. Perception moulds our belief system, and when it turns negative, it often creates the very limits we struggle against.
A negative mindset can cause people to reject help, isolate themselves or lose hope even when healing is possible.
As individuals and as a nation, we must challenge old narratives. Mental illness is not a moral failure or weakness, it is a health condition that requires care, compassion and courage.
To heal Namibia, we must renew our minds and shift perceptions, from stigma to support, from silence to solidarity. Perception change is possible. A shift in perception is not an immediate process. It requires intentional effort and typically unfolds in stages. To transform the mental state of the society, we must begin by reshaping perceptions and addressing the root causes of mental health breakdowns.
A national call to action
We cannot solve what we are unwilling to confront. And we cannot confront mental health with whispers. We need a bold, coordinated and compassionate national response. That includes:Declaring mental health a national emergency and development priority.
Integrating mental health services into all public health facilities, including rural clinics.
Training and deploying mental health professionals, including school-based counsellors.
Running national awareness campaigns to dismantle stigma and promote emotional well-being.
Establishing 24/7 helplines and mental health walk-in centres across regions.
Partnering with civil society and youth groups to create safe spaces for young people.
Mental health is not just a health issue, it’s a human development issue. A mentally strong nation is a nation capable of building, innovating and leading.
The future of our
youth and the nation
If we fail to act now, the long-term effects will be devastating. A generation burdened by untreated trauma and despair cannot become the innovative leaders, productive workers, or visionary nation-builders Namibia needs. Rising suicide rates and emotional distress among young people represent more than just individual tragedies, they are cracks in the foundation of our future.
Preserving Namibia’s future means safeguarding the mental wellbeing of its youth today. Addressing mental health is not just about saving lives in the present; it is about ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders are strong, resilient, and empowered to carry the nation forward. Ignoring this crisis risks losing not only bright minds but also the social and economic stability of the nation itself.
Empowering the
platforms that exist
Namibia already has community-based groups and organisations addressing mental health, but they need greater visibility, resources and collaboration. With proper support, these platforms can host support groups for trauma survivors, unemployed youth and those in recovery. Key efforts should include school and campus outreach with counselling and mentorship, media partnerships to normalise mental health conversations, and wider access to care through digital tools and virtual counselling.
The role of churches
and spiritual leaders
Namibia is a deeply spiritual country, and this spiritual foundation must be recognised as the anchor of mental well-being. Churches and faith leaders therefore have a vital role to play in fostering emotionally safe spaces. This calls for training pastors and church leaders in basic emotional care and crisis response, while also encouraging churches to host wellness talks, counselling sessions, and healing workshops. By weaving spiritual guidance with emotional support, the church can become a powerful source of restoration and resilience for individuals and communities, and can become pillars of support in the fight against stigma and silence.
There is hope
Mental illness is not a death sentence, and it should not be a lonely road. The youth of Namibia are not weak, they are simply human. Many of them are doing their best in a difficult environment, and they need more than survival. They need healing. They need a future.
Let us build a Namibia where it is normal to say “I’m not okay”, and where help is available when that moment comes. Let us invest in mental health the way we invest in roads, buildings, and infrastructure. Because people matter.
If we act together – government, churches, civil society, youth, and families – we can shift the narrative, break the silence, and restore hope to our communities.
*Sarah Goroh is an award-winning writer, life coach, strategist and youth advocate. Contact: [email protected] | Facebook: Charizma Inspirations.
With over 70% of the population under the age of 35, we are a youthful nation. But too many young people are silently battling depression, anxiety, trauma and hopelessness, often with no support, no safe space and no words to express their pain. And while the symptoms are visible in rising suicide rates, substance abuse, and emotional breakdowns, the national response has been slow, fragmented and overshadowed by silence.
What’s behind the crisis?
Mental health struggles don’t happen in a vacuum. They are rooted in a complex mix of social, economic and emotional pressures:Youth unemployment
Poverty and hunger
Gender-based violence
Childhood trauma and abuse
Financial debt
The emotional toll of substance abuse
Family instability and broken support systems
The Covid-19 pandemic only made things worse. Many young people graduated into a job market that had little to offer. Others lost family members, battled isolation, or fell into despair. Without strong mental health systems in place, many suffered silently, and some didn’t survive.
Hundreds of suicide cases are recorded annually, many among those under 35 years of age. But beyond these numbers are the untold stories of emotional exhaustion, unspoken trauma and a public health system that is often out of reach.
The weight of stigmaIn many Namibian communities, mental illness is still seen as weakness, shame or even spiritual punishment. This stigma keeps people, especially men and youth, from speaking up or asking for help. Many are afraid of being judged, mocked or dismissed. The result is a silent crisis. One where people only reach out when it’s too late.
The power of perception: Changing the way we think
Mental health is shaped not only by external pressures but also by how we process and perceive those experiences.
One’s perception creates his or her reality.
What you meditate on becomes what you believe, and often, what you live out. As a life coach, I’ve observed that many of the struggles and limitations people face often originate from their thought patterns. While we may not always have control over what happens to us or around us, we do have the power to choose how these situations affect us internally. When a single thought, whether true or false, is allowed to linger for too long, it eventually shapes the reality of the individual. When people hold on to a preconceived belief that someone or something is standing in the way of their progress, that belief shapes their personal truth, and over time their truth becomes their lived reality.
At the heart of today’s social decay lies a history of negative perceptions that have moulded society’s way of life. Perception moulds our belief system, and when it turns negative, it often creates the very limits we struggle against.
A negative mindset can cause people to reject help, isolate themselves or lose hope even when healing is possible.
As individuals and as a nation, we must challenge old narratives. Mental illness is not a moral failure or weakness, it is a health condition that requires care, compassion and courage.
To heal Namibia, we must renew our minds and shift perceptions, from stigma to support, from silence to solidarity. Perception change is possible. A shift in perception is not an immediate process. It requires intentional effort and typically unfolds in stages. To transform the mental state of the society, we must begin by reshaping perceptions and addressing the root causes of mental health breakdowns.
A national call to action
We cannot solve what we are unwilling to confront. And we cannot confront mental health with whispers. We need a bold, coordinated and compassionate national response. That includes:Declaring mental health a national emergency and development priority.
Integrating mental health services into all public health facilities, including rural clinics.
Training and deploying mental health professionals, including school-based counsellors.
Running national awareness campaigns to dismantle stigma and promote emotional well-being.
Establishing 24/7 helplines and mental health walk-in centres across regions.
Partnering with civil society and youth groups to create safe spaces for young people.
Mental health is not just a health issue, it’s a human development issue. A mentally strong nation is a nation capable of building, innovating and leading.
The future of our
youth and the nation
If we fail to act now, the long-term effects will be devastating. A generation burdened by untreated trauma and despair cannot become the innovative leaders, productive workers, or visionary nation-builders Namibia needs. Rising suicide rates and emotional distress among young people represent more than just individual tragedies, they are cracks in the foundation of our future.
Preserving Namibia’s future means safeguarding the mental wellbeing of its youth today. Addressing mental health is not just about saving lives in the present; it is about ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders are strong, resilient, and empowered to carry the nation forward. Ignoring this crisis risks losing not only bright minds but also the social and economic stability of the nation itself.
Empowering the
platforms that exist
Namibia already has community-based groups and organisations addressing mental health, but they need greater visibility, resources and collaboration. With proper support, these platforms can host support groups for trauma survivors, unemployed youth and those in recovery. Key efforts should include school and campus outreach with counselling and mentorship, media partnerships to normalise mental health conversations, and wider access to care through digital tools and virtual counselling.
The role of churches
and spiritual leaders
Namibia is a deeply spiritual country, and this spiritual foundation must be recognised as the anchor of mental well-being. Churches and faith leaders therefore have a vital role to play in fostering emotionally safe spaces. This calls for training pastors and church leaders in basic emotional care and crisis response, while also encouraging churches to host wellness talks, counselling sessions, and healing workshops. By weaving spiritual guidance with emotional support, the church can become a powerful source of restoration and resilience for individuals and communities, and can become pillars of support in the fight against stigma and silence.
There is hope
Mental illness is not a death sentence, and it should not be a lonely road. The youth of Namibia are not weak, they are simply human. Many of them are doing their best in a difficult environment, and they need more than survival. They need healing. They need a future.
Let us build a Namibia where it is normal to say “I’m not okay”, and where help is available when that moment comes. Let us invest in mental health the way we invest in roads, buildings, and infrastructure. Because people matter.
If we act together – government, churches, civil society, youth, and families – we can shift the narrative, break the silence, and restore hope to our communities.
*Sarah Goroh is an award-winning writer, life coach, strategist and youth advocate. Contact: [email protected] | Facebook: Charizma Inspirations.
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