Experts call on medical aids to urgently boost mental health coverage
‘These are not luxury services – they are essential’
Henriette LamprechtWINDHOEK
Remove discriminatory exclusions and include suicide-related and family therapy services under all medical aid fund benefit structures.
Reform these structures to provide dedicated annual benefits for mental health treatment for both inpatients and outpatients per beneficiary.
Integrate mental health services into primary healthcare and ensure that counsellors and psychologists work under professional supervision alongside social workers, nurses and general practitioners to deliver early, evidence-based interventions.
This is the unified plea from Namibian associations of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and private practitioners to address the mental health crisis that leaves many Namibians teetering on the edge or pushed over it.
Mental health in Namibia has long been treated as an option rather than a necessity, says Charine Glen-Spyron, president of the Psychological Association of Namibia (PAN).
Many medical aid fund benefit structures in Namibia still exclude therapy for conditions such as family dysfunction, substance abuse disorders and suicide-related stress – conditions that, according to her, are central to preventing a mental health crisis.
“When victims of suicide are excluded from medical aid fund support, the system itself becomes complicit in preventable loss,” Glen-Spyron warned.
“This exclusion not only discriminates against patients in crisis – it undermines the integrity of our entire healthcare system,” she added.
She acknowledged that psychologists are currently facing unprecedented demand for services, “yet benefit structures continue to deny coverage for comprehensive treatment of depression, family therapy and suicide prevention.”
“These are not luxury services – they are essential, evidence-based interventions that save lives and reduce overall healthcare costs,” she emphasised.
Unconstitutional exclusions
PAN’s submissions to the Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds (Namaf) and medical aid funds have, according to Glen-Spyron, repeatedly emphasised that such exclusions contradict Namibia’s constitutional protections for family, dignity and equality (Articles 8, 10, and 14), violate the right to fair administrative action (Article 18), and fail to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for mental health equity and access to care.
Dr Lovisa Nghipandulwa, president of the Namibia Social Workers Association (Naswa), in turn stressed that suicide in Namibia is a social emergency requiring systemic reform.
“When social workers encounter families torn apart by suicide, we see the ripple effects – children go unsupported, households are destabilised and communities are fractured,” she said.
According to Dr Jürgen Hoffmann, chairperson of the Private Practitioners Forum (NPPF), patients delay or forgo mental health treatment due to unaffordable costs and a lack of facilities.
Mental health professionals are discouraged, underpaid or underutilised, as in the case of psychological counsellors facing limited employment opportunities despite the national need. Institutions also operate, according to Hoffmann, with “insufficient transparency, accountability and clinical consultation.”
“Equality in mental health is not a privilege; it is a constitutional and public health obligation,” he emphasised.
Neglect fuels
mental health crisis
Hoffmann warned that Namibia faces a national mental health collapse, driven by prolonged administrative neglect.
“Universities still lack internship facilities for psychology graduates, while initial promises of employment within government institutions remain unfulfilled, leaving trained psychological counsellors unemployed,” he said.
Dr Belinda Bruwer, president of the Psychiatrists Association of Namibia (PsAN), pointed to Namaf rates that currently pay “a highly trained specialist with more than 12 years of training at a rate lower than many general professions.”
She said Namaf’s fee structure remains based on a 2002 South African model, with limited medication and procedural options. The rates are unsustainable and discourage psychiatrists from practising in Namibia, Bruwer warned.
“Although Namaf regularly seeks input from professional associations, that input is often ignored. This has eroded trust and demonstrates systemic disregard for specialist expertise,” she said.
— [email protected]
Remove discriminatory exclusions and include suicide-related and family therapy services under all medical aid fund benefit structures.
Reform these structures to provide dedicated annual benefits for mental health treatment for both inpatients and outpatients per beneficiary.
Integrate mental health services into primary healthcare and ensure that counsellors and psychologists work under professional supervision alongside social workers, nurses and general practitioners to deliver early, evidence-based interventions.
This is the unified plea from Namibian associations of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and private practitioners to address the mental health crisis that leaves many Namibians teetering on the edge or pushed over it.
Mental health in Namibia has long been treated as an option rather than a necessity, says Charine Glen-Spyron, president of the Psychological Association of Namibia (PAN).
Many medical aid fund benefit structures in Namibia still exclude therapy for conditions such as family dysfunction, substance abuse disorders and suicide-related stress – conditions that, according to her, are central to preventing a mental health crisis.
“When victims of suicide are excluded from medical aid fund support, the system itself becomes complicit in preventable loss,” Glen-Spyron warned.
“This exclusion not only discriminates against patients in crisis – it undermines the integrity of our entire healthcare system,” she added.
She acknowledged that psychologists are currently facing unprecedented demand for services, “yet benefit structures continue to deny coverage for comprehensive treatment of depression, family therapy and suicide prevention.”
“These are not luxury services – they are essential, evidence-based interventions that save lives and reduce overall healthcare costs,” she emphasised.
Unconstitutional exclusions
PAN’s submissions to the Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds (Namaf) and medical aid funds have, according to Glen-Spyron, repeatedly emphasised that such exclusions contradict Namibia’s constitutional protections for family, dignity and equality (Articles 8, 10, and 14), violate the right to fair administrative action (Article 18), and fail to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for mental health equity and access to care.
Dr Lovisa Nghipandulwa, president of the Namibia Social Workers Association (Naswa), in turn stressed that suicide in Namibia is a social emergency requiring systemic reform.
“When social workers encounter families torn apart by suicide, we see the ripple effects – children go unsupported, households are destabilised and communities are fractured,” she said.
According to Dr Jürgen Hoffmann, chairperson of the Private Practitioners Forum (NPPF), patients delay or forgo mental health treatment due to unaffordable costs and a lack of facilities.
Mental health professionals are discouraged, underpaid or underutilised, as in the case of psychological counsellors facing limited employment opportunities despite the national need. Institutions also operate, according to Hoffmann, with “insufficient transparency, accountability and clinical consultation.”
“Equality in mental health is not a privilege; it is a constitutional and public health obligation,” he emphasised.
Neglect fuels
mental health crisis
Hoffmann warned that Namibia faces a national mental health collapse, driven by prolonged administrative neglect.
“Universities still lack internship facilities for psychology graduates, while initial promises of employment within government institutions remain unfulfilled, leaving trained psychological counsellors unemployed,” he said.
Dr Belinda Bruwer, president of the Psychiatrists Association of Namibia (PsAN), pointed to Namaf rates that currently pay “a highly trained specialist with more than 12 years of training at a rate lower than many general professions.”
She said Namaf’s fee structure remains based on a 2002 South African model, with limited medication and procedural options. The rates are unsustainable and discourage psychiatrists from practising in Namibia, Bruwer warned.
“Although Namaf regularly seeks input from professional associations, that input is often ignored. This has eroded trust and demonstrates systemic disregard for specialist expertise,” she said.
— [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article