PRIORITISING MENTAL HEALTH IS A URGENT NEED
Ilustration: Studio Permanent
One of the issues that is being discussed in the world, and is even being prioritised since the COVID-19 pandemic, is mental health. Although, in many countries of the world, well-being and mental health are raised as very important issues, many years ago even before the COVID-19 pandemic, in Kosovo they are still not on the list of priority issues. So, the COVID-19 pandemic, with its negative impact on the whole world, beyond the impact on physical health, has also worsened the state of mental health of various people, including the Kosovar society. According to the Civil Society Report on Human Rights in Kosovo in 2020 “measures such as curfew and mandatory quarantine in the first months of the pandemic, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the socio-economic situation and the general uncertainty regarding the future increased the level of mental health problems in Kosovo, such as anxiety and sleep disorders”. Prejudice and fear of vaccination have been among the influencing factors. Studies show that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This situation, more than ever, has highlighted the importance of prioritising mental health as one of the issues that must be addressed since the first wave of the pandemic. Therefore, during the first wave of the pandemic, there were some efforts to mitigate the negative effect of the pandemic on mental health. Among them, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Psychology, University of Pristina, have worked to provide psychological first aid services, “Support” through phone and chat. According to the plan for action during the first wave of the pandemic, it is stated that “more than 5000 citizens have contacted these services and according to this, the study of relevant data during the use of these services proved that: 37.2% of clients experienced stress, 40.2% anxiety , (…) and 15.2% depressive symptoms”. Bind Skeja, psychologist and founder of the telephone center for suicide prevention “Linja e Jeta”, says that even during the pandemic, Linja e Jeta has also provided services to citizens.
In addition to the impact on the deterioration of mental health, the COVID-19 pandemic may have also contributed to the reduction of mental health stigma. It has been observed that the pandemic has influenced people to feel the weight of stigmatisation less, when they have needed to talk about the impacts they have noticed on their mental health. This issue has been addressed in the local media, not only by experts in the field, but also by citizens. During this time, there has been more discussion about mental health care, which is an indicator of impact on the stigmatisation of mental health problems in Kosovo. “While we were closed, there was a lot of information that circulated about mental health. This has had a positive effect on the stigmatisation of the discussion about mental health, but this has not continued. The main problem is that people who deal with investments do not understand the challenge for mental health”, says Skeja.
However, mental health is still not among the priorities of policy makers and decision makers. In an article by Violeta Zefi, psychologist, published in S’bunker, entitled “Long-term consequences of the pandemic on mental health” it is said that, “”The Program of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo 2021-2025″ mentions the word in only two cases “mental health”, without giving details or without presenting any concrete and well-elaborated activity which is the goal for improving this important aspect of health in general”. This approach, which shows that mental health is not prioritised, certainly affects the creation of mechanisms that would help people in need.
“Now we have only 8 mental health centres, and they are also minimally supported. Linja e Jeta has no funding allocated by the government for support. We are currently the country that invests the least in mental health. Only 1% of the budget of the Ministry of Health is allocated to mental health. This should not be acceptable,” Skeja emphasised.
The urgency to invest in well-being and mental health has not passed, because even after the end of the pandemic, its consequences on the mental health of citizens will be observed. So, apart from the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and challenged our society, at the same time it has revealed a reality that must be fixed. It has shown that taking care of mental health is essential. It has shown that the neglect of the governing systems in relation to mental health must be stopped. Now more than ever it is necessary to finally prioritise the issue of mental health by regulating and strengthening the existing structures that provide mental health services. It is also necessary to invest in the strengthening of organisations that work in the field of psycho-social well-being
About the author: Viola Greiçevci, is 19 years old from Prishtina, who continues her studies in the Department of Psychology, at the University of Pristina
This grant is supported by Austrian Development Agency
