Namibia faces a mental health ‘epidemic’

Elizabeth KheibesWINDHOEKNamibia is facing an acute shortage of mental health professionals, with only 28 registered psychologists serving a population of more than three million people, parliament heard on Tuesday.Delivering remarks during the debate on the Mental Health Bill of 2025, parliamentarian and deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele warned that the country’s mental health situation had reached “epidemic proportions” and requires urgent action.Earlier this year, health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao, speaking at a mental health awareness symposium in Windhoek, said Namibia had recorded more than 91 500 outpatient mental health consultations and 11 400 inpatient admissions during the 2024–2025 financial year.According to !Nawases-Taeyele, the Psychological Association of Namibia revealed that of the 28 psychologists currently registered, only 10 practice independently.Most are based in Windhoek, leaving much of the country without specialised care.The deputy minister told parliament that only one psychiatrist is stationed in Oshakati, another in Swakopmund, and a single psychiatrist serves at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Hospital, rotating between Katutura and Central Hospital.Namibian Sun could not independently verify the total number of psychologists currently working in Namibia at the time of going to print. Barrier to treatment!Nawases-Taeyele further highlighted that the absence of ambulances and transport at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Hospital “presents a significant barrier to treatment” and perpetuates stigma. “Such circumstances not only restrict access to critical care but also reinforce the damaging perception of mental health that prevails in our society,” she said.The deputy minister lamented that mental health funding remains minimal, accounting for less than 5% of the national health budget – far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended allocation.She said the limited resources and lack of trained personnel are “amplifying the crisis”.“We must prioritise the promotion of dignity and rights within mental health care. Mental health impacts each one of us; we are all candidates for mental health challenges, whether in this House, our workplaces, or our homes,” she told fellow lawmakers.Paradigm shift in mental health care Her remarks echoed concerns raised by minister Luvindao, who last month tabled the new Mental Health Bill before parliament.The minister said the bill seeks to replace the outdated Mental Health Act of 1973, which focuses on institutionalisation and control rather than rehabilitation and rights.“The bill represents a paradigm shift from control and confinement towards a rights-based, patient-centred, and community-oriented system of mental health care. It ensures that mental health services are accessible not only in Windhoek but throughout all regions of the country,” said Luvindao.The new legislation proposes the establishment of independent review boards, decentralised care, and legal safeguards to protect patients’ rights.It also emphasises community-based treatment, inclusion and dignity, in line with Namibia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that one in four people will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives – a statistic !Nawases-Taeyele said “underscores our collective responsibility to act”.She urged government to invest more in mental health infrastructure, training and awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas where services remain scarce.“We must match our words with action. By prioritising mental health in our policies and budgets, we can build a society where every individual is treated with respect, care, and support,” she concluded.

Namibia faces a mental health ‘epidemic’

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-25

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Namibia faces a mental health ‘epidemic’

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-25

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