INDIGENOUS METHODS, A KEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION?
Over three months ago, Canon Collins Trust (CCT) Annual Scholars conference was held in Sandton, South Africa. CCT is an educational trust for Southern Africa founded in 1981 to fund higher education and research on human rights, social justice and education which impacts on the marginalised people in the society. In one of the discussions during the conference, addressing mental health through indigenous means was one the worthwhile deliberations and will expand on it.
Mental illnesses are influenced by a myriad of factors; culture included. There are also firm beliefs of mental illnesses being caused by spiritual factors which therefore makes traditional healers to be a critical stakeholder. It must be noted that back in the days, our communities had mental health challenges and used indigenous methods at the time for healing purposes.
In the context of Botswana, indigenous methods are offered by traditional doctors and herbalists. The doctors are mostly affiliated to Dingaka Association; who are duly recognised by the Ministry of Health. Traditional healers are often involved in issues that arise from psychological and cultural bearing. Some of the well-known mental health treatments include bloodletting, herbal incision, herbal ingestion, colon cleansing and purging methods, to name but a few. Additionally, issues like “kosha,” steam baths and visiting ancestral burial place are entrenched in spirituality and are geared towards re-establishing attachments within family and create life balance.
Health is defined as the state of complete state of physical, mental, spiritual well-being; thus indigenous methods can nurture the spiritual side of things. Whilst indigenous methods remain patronised by some members of the community and health professionals, they are necessary as they ensure the holistic approach to health.
The holistic approach of indigenous methods augurs well for mental health promotion as it can improve among others treatment compliance, Indigenous methods in mental care has been proposed to be integrated in the treatment of some mental health problems. With indigenous therapies, there is a general consensus that they promote general wellbeing on account of them addressing the mind, body and soul. Mental health is a multifactorial and can be addressed through involvement of various stakeholders and strategies.