Over 540 suicides, 103 000 mental cases in 2024

Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has decried delays in finalising the long-awaited Mental Health Bill, revealing that a staggering 102 900 mental health cases were recorded during the 2024/2025 financial year.Speaking at a mental health awareness symposium in Windhoek yesterday, Luvindao criticised Namibia’s sluggish pace in implementing critical mental health reforms, warning that legislative inaction is costing lives.According to official data, over 91 500 outpatient consultations and 11 400 inpatient admissions were recorded during the reporting period - underscoring what the minister described as a growing national crisis.“Can it take 10 years to finalise one bill?” she asked pointedly. “Processes must serve the people—not delay progress. We are not waiting another decade to do what should have been done yesterday.”Luvindao, at 31 one of the youngest members of Cabinet, stressed the urgency of moving beyond talk. “We cannot workshop our way out of a crisis. We must legislate, build, fund, and treat.”‘Policies gathering dust’Despite the alarming figures, Luvindao noted that the legal and infrastructural frameworks meant to support mental health care remain outdated or incomplete.“We have people suffering and dying while policies gather dust,” she said. “If we want different outcomes, we need different approaches - and that starts with urgency.”Drawing from personal experience, the minister shared that she, too, had struggled with anxiety during medical school and sought counselling.“I talk about it now because we need to normalise it,” she said, warning that health professionals often suffer in silence. “We expect our nurses and doctors to cope simply because they signed up for the job. But burnout and depression are not part of the job description,” she added.Budget infrastructure must reflect prioritiesLuvindao also took aim at the disparity between political rhetoric and financial commitment.“It’s one thing to say mental health matters. It’s another to show it in the budget. We need more funding - no more excuses.”She cited ongoing hospital construction projects, including the Windhoek District Hospital, as missed opportunities to integrate mental health infrastructure.“It makes no sense to build a hospital without even a few holding or counselling rooms. That omission sends a message - we don’t care. That needs to change.”The minister pledged to prioritise the implementation of infrastructure and resources throughout her tenure.Lives lostNamibia’s suicide rate was also in focus, with 542 deaths recorded in the past year.“Every suicide is a failure of the system - and of our collective humanity,” Luvindao said. “I am not a mental health expert,” she added, “but I am committed to leading in consultation with those who are.”“I am the driver, not the GPS. The psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health nurses - they are the GPSes.”She confirmed that the Mental Health Bill will be finalised within the current financial year. A benchmarking visit to Zimbabwe is planned for July 2025 to inform the development of the proposed legislation.

Over 540 suicides, 103 000 mental cases in 2024

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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Over 540 suicides, 103 000 mental cases in 2024

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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