Drugs drive Bulawayo crazy

Bulawayo is facing a growing mental health crisis, with increasing numbers of people seen wandering the streets in distress, talking to themselves and displaying erratic behaviour - a situation health experts link to substance abuse, family breakdowns and worsening poverty.

From the central business district to high-density suburbs, the sight of men and women battling visible psychological distress has become a troubling feature of daily life. Community members are questioning what is driving the alarming trend.

At the centre of the problem is substance abuse, particularly crystal meth, marijuana and cheap alcohol. Initially taken as coping mechanisms for joblessness and stress, these substances are now pushing users into paranoia, aggression, depression and, in many cases, psychosis. Disturbingly, the problem is spreading beyond the youth, with parents increasingly being caught up in addiction, leaving homes fractured and children without guidance.

Weak parenting has further exacerbated the issue, with many young people growing up in households lacking supervision or positive role models. This has fuelled drug experimentation and left vulnerable teens more likely to collapse under social and economic pressures. Experts warn this cycle of addiction and untreated mental health problems is tearing at the fabric of family and community life.

Contributing factors include high unemployment, widespread hopelessness and the breakdown of traditional community bonds. Instead of receiving help, many sufferers face stigma and ridicule, which deepens their distress and discourages them from seeking support.

Ingutsheni Central Hospital's Director of Clinical Services, Dr Wellington Ranga, urged caution in interpreting the crisis.

"I can't confirm a rise in the number of mentally ill individuals in Bulawayo," Dr Ranga said. "However, the community's observation of more people displaying strange behaviour is irrefutable. What we are seeing is behaviour influenced by substance use and other factors."

He emphasised the need for counselling and rehabilitation services, noting that in some cases individuals must be removed from environments that perpetuate their addictions.

Bulawayo's mental health crisis reflects the broader struggles of a society under pressure. Without urgent intervention by families, communities and authorities, experts warn, more people could fall into preventable breakdowns.