Many countries don’t know how to handle the invisible burden of mental illness. This health and social burden is often ignored, and the attitudes towards mental illness haven’t changed much in the 21st century. The following is a list of reasons why mental health is a low priority. Hopefully, it will serve as a guide for future governments to prioritize the issue and implement new policies. We’ll also discuss the impact of a lack of mental health policy in the United States.
Mental health remains a low priority in many African countries, but there is little research on the views of stakeholders in these countries. We are able to compare the perspectives of stakeholders in four countries: Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, and Uganda, to understand why mental health is such a low priority. The study also compares findings of a framework analysis between these countries. The results show that mental health is not given the attention it deserves.
Schools must support efforts to normalize mental health and reduce the stigma associated with it. Teachers can help by sharing resources, assigning daily journals, and implementing a check-in process. Any effort that normalizes mental health can help to break down the stigma associated with it. Additionally, school leaders can help students by implementing mindfulness workshops or other activities. This will reduce the stigmas around mental illness and increase the level of understanding about it.
