Millions of Zimbabweans mentally ill

A staggering four million Zimbabweans are suffering from mental illnesses, a top psychiatrist has said.

David Mukwekwezeke, a senior resident medical officer at Parirenyatwa hospital said in an opinion piece that although the incident may be purely coincidental, medical research corroborates the rise in mental illness.

Daily News reported on Sunday that according to 2015 ministry of health statistics, there are approximately 91 390 mentally ill patients in Zimbabwe.

"It is blatantly clear that the economic hardships, pervasive comments by the ruling elite and a multitude of other events currently happening are psychological stressors which continue to replicate in our psyche both collective and individual and this will ultimately lead to dysregulation of mood, thought and or behaviour," Mukwekwezeke said.

Last year, government launched a four-year strategic plan that seeks, among other things, to guide the implementation of the mental health policy of 2004 by harmonising activities and improving the provision of drugs.

Mukwekwezeke said there are revelations by seasoned psychiatrist Dickson Chibanda which indicate that about five million Zimbabweans or 40 percent of the population suffer from some form of mental illness, compared to 1,3 million of 2015.