WHO: Mental health illness a Stark Reality in #SouthSudan

A technical officer dealing in mental health says mental illness is a reality in South Sudan that must be urgently addressed.

Dr Joseph Lou Kenyi’s comments as we commemorate World Health Day under the theme ‘Depression-Let’s talk, to raise awareness and encourage support for sufferers.

Dr. Kenyi told Radio Miraya that recent estimates from the World Health Organisation put the number of mentally ill people in South Sudan at more than six million people of humanitarian concern.

“This could be mild to moderate mental health condition that could be depression, anxiety, or post- traumatic stress,” he explained.

Dr. Kenyi says the recently launched national health policy identifies mental illness as a priority and lays out strategies to treat and manage the disease.

More in this interview with Samuel Pawon.