The founder of the Holding Hope Mental Practice, Hileni Njaba, says limited mental health facilities, particularly those that can accommodate children, are concerning.

She was speaking at the Junior National Council during a discussion on mental health and social support for children and adolescents.

Dr Ndjaba revealed that during the 2024/2025 financial year, the country recorded close to 92,000 new cases and admitted about 11,000 patients.

"There are only two public facilities in the country that offer mental health services with little consideration for children and adolescent care. Why are we saying this? Because when you want to look at the children and the adolescents, you want to treat them because this is a special group, but we do not have a special health facility, nor do we have trained specialists to take care of the children and adolescents."

She further stated that 50% of mental health disorders start before the age of 14, calling for integrated mental health screening in schools to improve long-term educational attainment.

Ndjaba says psychosocial support services are mostly effective when they are integrated into a child's daily life through family, schools and the community.

"Based on the current research and expert recommendation, the psychosocial support services include the foundation of family and the community health family environment and supportive community that provides space for children to feel physically and emotionally secure, routine and structural that monitors behaviour like sleep, meals, and play, and provides a sense of control."

Dr Ndjamba further stated that there is a need for expanding access to care in rural and underserved regions, as well as adolescent responsive services not only at a clinical level but also at a community-based level.