Mental Health and Wellness Changing Mindsets for Effective Governance

Abstract

Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their abilities, can cope with normal life stresses, work productively, and contribute to their community — WHO
Common Mental Health Issues in Africa:
• - Depression and anxiety disorders
• - Substance and alcohol use disorders
• - Post-traumatic stress (from conflict, poverty, and disaster)
• - Burnout and workplace-related stress
• - Youth and gender-based mental health vulnerabilities (A 2024 meta-analysis across African countries found that roughly 27–30% of adolescents experience significant psychological distress
• WHO reports that African women are twice as likely as men to experience
depression, yet men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide