'Stop calling people with mental illness Ditsenwa!'

Speakers at Doers Mental and Emotional Development Seminar held at Ba Isago University yesterday cautioned the public against discriminating against people living with mental illnesses using derogatory terms one of them being 'ditsenwa' (crazy people). They said the word kills one’s confidence and therefore hinders them from seeking health assistance.

According to Catherine Moalosi, fighting mental health stigma is a vital approach. She explained that it could give a voice to people who suffer in silence. She explained that stigma was more prevalent in Botswana and perpetrators were not strangers but family members, friends, and even colleagues who do not provide a conducive environment for mentally ill people.