The Midweek Sun

INDIGENOUS METHODS, A KEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION?

- With DAVID SIDNEY MANGWEGAPE

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.

 ?? ?? dsmangwega­pe@gmail.com FACEBOOK; David Sidney Mangwegape
dsmangwega­pe@gmail.com FACEBOOK; David Sidney Mangwegape

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