Members of parliament (MPs) in the National Council have called on the government for improved infrastructure around mental health institutions and fully qualified psychologists.

The MPs made contributions to the Mental Health Bill while advocating for stronger support for health workers and improved infrastructure of existing mental health hospitals.

The MPs stressed that the government has to ensure that people with mental health conditions or disorders receive appropriate mental health care in a way that is equitable, affordable, accessible, efficient and non-discriminatory.

Swapo Party MP Andreas Amundjindi said, "As we speak, in Namibia, we have only two facilities that are accommodating people with a health condition or disorder. That is Windhoek Central Hospital and Oshakati. And these facilities, they are very much overcrowded. Take an example for Windhoek Central. It accommodates patients from nine regions. And it compromises the human dignity; it compromises the rights of these patients."

In support, other MPs believe that the Bill moves Namibia from a custodial approach to a care, support and rehabilitation model.

"I draw your attention to the urgent and often invisible mental health crisis in most of the region in Namibia. Limited number of non-existent or non-existent specialised mental health facilities. Severe shortages of trained professionals, high levels of poverty, trauma and social stressors. Mental health cases often go undiagnosed and untreated. I highlight that mental health in rural regions is often misunderstood and neglected," added Swapo Party MP, Augusta Katembo.

UDF MP Eddie Nanub reiterated, "The Bill allows obligations for voluntary care to be made by family members in social workers or fault-independent judicial oversight. This is a recipe for abuse. Families can misuse these to look or lock away relatives for convenience or property disputes. Therefore, I move the following concrete demands. The current vision without a mandatory cost implementation roadmap will be tabled alongside. Ring face budget for mental health infrastructure and staff recruitment. Server unit from the general health budget. OUT

Swapo Party MP Joseph Sikongo stressed, "You and I, today we are fine. But after this meeting, one can be mentally ill. And therefore, if you don't understand faster, it will be too late. By the time you are mentally ill, nobody will look at you. You will still be discriminated against. Therefore, to support the Bill."