Mental illnesses hit Botswana

According to the 2016 psychiatric out-patient heath disorders latest report which was published this week, about 37,352 mental out-patient disorder consultations were registered. Mood Affective Disorders were the second most common block of mental disorders with 16.9% while Episodic and paroxysmal disorders were the third with 7.5 percent of all consultations.

The report also highlighted that the male counterparts were the most affected as more than half, 52.4% of mental health out-patient consultations were males while their female counterparts constituted 47.6%. Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids (psychotic disorder) and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of cannabinoids (harmful use) were the only top 10 consultations among males.