Tag: friendship bench

Friendship Bench Helps 100 000 People With Depression and Anxiety

Healthtimes

DEMAND for psychotherapeutic services has gone up in Zimbabwe as over 100 000 people suffering from depression and anxiety have accessed the Friendship Bench Services. By Kudakwashe Pembere Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider. Friendship Bench is an evidence-based intervention developed in Zimbabwe to bridge the mental health treatment gap. In Zimbabwe, there are about 15 psychiatrists in government health facilities meaning one psychiatrist tends to about a million people. “To date I can say…

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Study Endorses Psychosocial Therapy In Low and Middle Income Countries

Healthtimes

AS Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Ministry intends to adopt the Friendship Bench community mental health initiative, a research published on Lancet Psychiatry has shown that psychosocial therapy interventions is effective in bridging the mental health gap in low income and middle income countries. By Kudakwashe Pembere In Zimbabwe, there is a globally renowned intervention named the Friendship Bench where community health workers such as the Mbuya Utsanana and even the youth are used as psychotherapists. The Health Ministry in its 2019-2023 Mental Health Strategic Plan in the adoption of…

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Gvt Launches New Mental Health Strategic Plan

NewsRoom

THE National Mental Health Services Strategy for the period 2019 to 2023 launched on Friday is set to improve quality of patient care, service delivery, mental health awareness and community empowerment, a Cabinet minister said. By Kudakwashe Pembere Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo officiating the launch said the plan is expected to among other things improve to access of mental healthcare services. “There is a need to decentralized mental healthcare and integrating into general medical healthcare from primary healthcare level with programs such as the WHOMental Health…

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