MENTAL HEALTH Archives

Kambucha is an alcohol, Masvingo Council Doctor claims

September 26, 2023 Kuda Pembere

Masvingo City Council has banned its employees from consuming Kambucha, a fermented tea product, during working hours after learning it contains alcohol. By Kuda Pembere Touted as a non-intoxicating product with health benefits, a Masvingo doctor advised the Council Kambucha makes people drunk. Some people who have been drinking this product state a certain Kambucha number 3 made them drunk. “It has come to our attention that some council employees come to work drunk due to consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances. ” It has also been noted that…

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How Climate Change is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Urban Zimbabwe

September 20, 2023September 20, 2023 Taurai Nyandoro

By Taurai Nyandoro If there are any global issues that have garnered and evoked increased attention in the past few years, it has to be climate change and mental health. A growing body of evidence points to the connection between climate change and mental health. In fact, there is a link between climate change and mental disorders, including fear, anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, lost self-efficacy, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Urban residents in Zimbabwe are not immune to the impacts of droughts, floods, and heatwaves. Unsurprisingly, these changes…

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Kwekwe Town Council/ Police Remove Mentally Ill People From The Streets

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Healthtimes

Kwekwe City Council together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other social welfare departments launched a blitz today to round up mentally ill individuals in Kwekwe Central Business District for the safety of the general public. The decision came after a distressing incident last week, where a 23-year-old man was struck on the head to death by a mentally ill person. The city has in recent times become a home to mentally ill patients and street kids who terrorise the public. Kwekwe City Council Director of Housing and Health…

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Chipangura addresses mental health issues in her 13th book

July 26, 2023July 26, 2023 Ntokozo Gudu

Renowned author and publisher Faith Mudiwa Chipangura, has released a captivating exploration of mental health challenges book entitled “Coming Clean.” By Ntokozo Gudu The book was published by Phoenix Publishing and to date has already received overwhelming responses. ‘Coming Clean’ was launched by Chipangura on her social media platforms. In an interview with HealthTimes, Chipangura said the book addresses sensitive topics with compassion and empathy hence destigmatizing mental health, The book plays a crucial role in destigmatizing conversations around mental health,it encourages open dialogue, helping to create a society that…

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“Practice responsible journalism on people who use drugs”

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 Ntokozo Gudu

AS Zimbabwe is seized with a drug and substance abuse epidemic mainly among among the youthful population, journalists have been advised to use responsible language that does not discriminate or endanger the lives of people using drugs. By Nthokozo Gudu This was said by various stakeholders who attended a journalists at a training on capacity building on harm reduction and accurate reporting on drug use held in Harare recently and hosted by Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN). ZCLDN Director, Mr Wilson Box said the language used on reporting…

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House of Arts Association Uses Art To Tackle Mental Health Issues in Youths

July 13, 2023July 13, 2023 Ntokozo Gudu

A Youth-led community movement, House Of Arts Association has created a platform to raise awareness and combat mental health issues through art. By Nthokozo Gudu The organization believes that through art, the highest expression of self, an individual can rediscover themselves, free themselves, hence creating a world that heals everyone in any way possible, in the process spreading awareness on mental health to young people as it helps them build positive social, emotional,intellectual and communication skills. Recently House of Arts Association(HAA) in collaboration with the U.S Embassy, screened a documentary…

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Rehabilitation dilemma for Zim’s poor Drug and Substance Addicts

June 29, 2023June 30, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Zimbabwe is struggling to offer proper drug abuse rehabilitation services with majority of patients currently being admitted in psychiatric units in public health institutions which in most cases, are ill equipped to provide drug abuse rehabilitation services. By Michael Gwarisa In 2022, data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicated that 75 percent to 85 percent of bed occupancy in mental health institutions was due to substance use. Information gathered by this publication recently reveals that public health facilities are struggling to deal with the swelling numbers of…

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Vuzu sex parties invade Harare

June 27, 2023 Kuda Pembere

A famous Bulawayo frenzy of wild sex parties monikered ‘vuzu’ parties, has now entered Harare’s Hatfield suburb, HealthTimes has learned. By Kudakwashe Pembere Vuzu parties are indoor gatherings common in Bulawayo mostly held by teenagers where they engage in beer, and drug binges as well as illicit unprotected sex. This was revealed in an interview by a Hatfield resident Tapiwa Chandavengerwa, a recovered addict who is working with some organisations in the reduction of drug and substance abuse. Chandavengerwa said there is a house in Hatfield which hosts these vuzu…

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WHO preps 44 Zim government officials to deal with SA ZEP returnees’ mental health

May 19, 2023 Kuda Pembere

FORTY-four government officials received mental health and psychosocial support training from the World Health Organization ahead of the return of about 180 000 returnees from South Africa who had Zimbabwe Exemption Permits. By Kudakwashe Pembere With the deadline for the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits expiry looming, mental health disorders such as depression and even drug and substance abuse among others are anticipated. Zimbabweans reportedly make up South Africa’s largest group of immigrants, with about 800,000 living in the country, many for decades but not all of them legally and doing low…

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An uptown girl’s battle with drug and substance addiction

May 1, 2023May 5, 2023 Kuda Pembere

DRUG and substance abuse in Zimbabwe is usually synonymous with the ghetto streets. A dirty, shabby, red eyed male figure is probably the first picture one envisions when they think of drug users and abusers. By Kuda Pembere Well, here is a Newsflash, the drug crisis is equally endemic and deep rooted in uptown residential areas such as Borrowadale Brooke, Chisipite, Umwinsdale and others just as is the case with Ghettos like Mabvuku, Mbare, Fio, Kuwadzana, Mufakose and others. It also knows no gender as more and more girls are…

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