A case for digital mental health services in Uganda

By 

Jacob Waiswa Buganga,

Wellness and Recreation Facility

Kampala, Uganda

Development and growth of cities, countries, and regions have caused excitement, but also misery, arising from income inequality, limited benefit from development programs, limited means of livelihood, limited access to relief support, family breakdown, depression, substance abuse, crime and violence, and limited access to mental health services by the majority of the population, both the urban and rural poor in Uganda. 

As a consequence, they suffer from preventable non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure due to obsessive, stressful, and risky behaviour, include overuse of addictive substances to cope with extreme stress. This further compromises family and social progress and harmony, yet without adequate means to redeem the situation. 

The limited and available mental health services offer psychological first aid, without midterm and long-term care and management. Covid19 has disrupted livelihoods and more than doubled mental health challenges, leading to sudden deaths. 

The devastating impact of Covid19, compromised delivery of mental health services by the limited service providers in place, despite the need to survive more than 41 million people and counter pathological information that is detrimental to mental wellbeing.

Under these circumstances, emergency responses are needed to boost to mental health  in most challenging times, through alternative care arrangements such as digital mental healthcare services. 

The limited facilities and distant areas require looping system and approach, involving digital technology, to salvage the situation.  This will allow access to digital mental health in any part of the country and support midterm and long-term mental health care and management.