‘Mental health needs urgent action’
By Ludia Ngwadzai
GOVERNMENT must act on mental health urgently before it becomes a health crisis, Youth Life Project (YLP) has said.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast yesterday, YLP executive director Michael Nkhosi said government should take an interest in the growing number of people suffering from mental health issues.
“Government must act now to address the growing mental health crisis among Zambia’s youth. These mental health issues have contributed to alarming rates of suicide, leaving families and members of the community in trauma across the country,” Nkhosi said.
He urged government to amend the 2010 Disaster Management Act to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into humanitarian interventions.
“This is a critical step towards ensuring that our youth receive the support they need to cope with the devastating impact of environmental disasters and economic hardship,” Nkhosi said.
He said there was a need for the establishment of a national centre for trauma recovery and rehabilitation to provide the much-needed specialised services for young people struggling with trauma and mental health-related.
“We need to create a system that prioritises the mental health of our youth, rather than placing them out of recovery,” Nkhosi said.
He called for investment in community safe zones and activism labs, which would provide young people with creative outlets to process trauma and hold decision-makers accountable.
The call to action comes amid growing concerns about the rising number of suicides among Zambia’s youth.
Nkhosi said suicide was one of the leading causes of death among young people in the country, with many cases going unreported or misclassified.
“We are losing our youth to a mental health crisis that is largely preventable. It’s time for the government to take action and prioritize the mental health of our young people,” he said.
Nkhosi said concerted efforts from government, civil society and the private sector were needed to ensure that mental health services were accessible and affordable for all.
“Building a resilient Zambia begins with protecting our most valuable resource, the mental health of our youth,” he said.
Recent reports indicate a significant rise in suicidal incidents in Zambia.
In 2024, there was a recorded 640 percent spike, with 3,616 suicide-related incidents (including suicidal thoughts and attempts) reported by Lifeline Childline Zambia.
In 2025, Eastern Province alone recorded 68 suicide cases between January and July.
Mental health cases in the country had risen from 19,000 in 2021 to over 32,000 in 2024, with young people being particularly affected.
