REPORT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ‘NORMALLY’
Written by Millennium on September 27, 2019
NOEL IYOMBWA writes
@SunZambian
THERE is need for the media in Zambia to report on mental health stories responsibly to avoid more stigmatizing the patients, a University Teaching Hospital (UTH) psychiatrist
Speaking during a media training workshop on suicide reporting and psychological training in Lusaka, Psychiatrist Registrar, Naeem Dalal, journalists need to add dignity to stories on mental health as they are stories on people who are already stigmatized by the public.
He said by reporting responsibly, the media can help to fight mental health stigmatization.
Dr Dalal also observed numerous researches conducted worldwide, have established that poor reporting on suicide can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals.
He said the phenomenon referred to as suicide contagion, occurs when one or more suicides are reported in a way that contribute to more suicides.
Dr Dalal advised media houses to impart skills on media personnel reporting on suicide.
And Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) president, Samson Chisele, said despite being one of the leading causes of death, mental health has been neglected.
Dr Chisele said more than 8,000 people per year attempt suicide and that the media can play a leading role in stopping people from contemplating suicide by responsibly on the issue.
He further called on the media to help the public to learn and understand the mental health act adding that few people know that it is a requirement that each health institution is required to have a mental health department.
