Dhaka, Bangladesh (CU)_ Rwanda and Bangladesh have pledged to advocate for the advancement of mental health in Commonwealth member states. At a CHOGM side event organized in Kigali with the theme, “Rethinking mental health: A Commonwealth call to support, care, and transform”, the pledge was made under the Kigali-Dhaka Compact on Mental Health and was signed by the two nations’ foreign ministers.
Participants of this session decided to implement a Commonwealth-wide awareness campaign and policy interventions in addressing Mental Health problems, highlighting that about a quarter of Commonwealth nations are yet to adopt a mental health policy. The Commonwealth countries are obligated to implement the following commitments: Ensuring the addition of mental health policies; mobilizing Mental Health Funding; introducing a special campaign for children, adolescents, and youth; combating stigma and disparity; empowering people; and incorporating data, innovation, and science in addressing mental health issues.
According to Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, who attended the event, poor mental health causes a huge loss to the global economy, costing an estimated $2.5 trillion every year. She added, “This hemorrhage of resources, this costly human tragedy, makes one thing clear: mental health is the bedrock upon which the welfare of our communities lies. We cannot allow this foundation to crack, without us joining forces, to solder it”.
While delivering his speech, Dr. Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, stated that reconsidering mental health and dealing with social stigma against individuals with mental health disorders has always been a personal and countrywide campaign headed by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. As part of this national initiative, Bangladesh has passed the mental health act of 2018 and the national mental health strategic plan 2020 in the past three years. Thus, Bangladesh will continue to advocate for mental health in the Commonwealth, WHO, and other international organizations.
According to Vincent Biruta, the minister of foreign affairs, Rwanda strengthened its mental health provision in response to the severe disorders that were reported following the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. He also reaffirmed the necessity for adequate deployment of resources and facilities for quality treatment of mental health disorders among adults. Biruta said, “With mental health disproportionately affecting our youth, globally, it is our duty to ensure that we properly address its challenges and provide all the needed support to ensure a bright future for our youth and hence our nations”.
