Mental illness has gone up in Lango sub-region, a health expert has said. Bonney Ocen, a clinical officer in charge of Lira mental unit, said they receive 150 mental patients in a week although few are considered serious.
He said the highest cases include mood and anxiety disorders, epilepsy and a few cases of alcohol and drug misuse.
Other patients have excessive happiness, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsession compulsions.
The mental unit, built in 2009, serves Amolatar, Lira, Apac, Oyam, Dokolo, Oyam and Alebtong districts.
It has a capacity of 40 beds but Ocen said only eight patients with serious cases were admitted at the unit.
“Those who are not very sick are treated from home.”
He cited HIV/AIDS, malaria, war, accidents, stress, alcohol and drugs as some of the main causes for mental illness.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Mental illness rising in Lango region of Uganda
From New Vision in Uganda:
