Families also suffer when their loved ones become addicted. In Zimbabwe, where healthcare systems are already overwhelmed and the effects of mental illness still tend to be underestimated, no one gets the help they need.

The chronic underfunding of Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector is contributing to a rise in mental illness. The lack of investment will have long-term consequences not only for the wellbeing of the population, but also for the country’s economy.

In our crisis-ridden world, people’s mental well-being is suffering greatly. Low-income countries in particular lack professional staff, and mental health issues are often taboo. This urgently needs to change.