Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1341113,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1341113/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 383,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr Susan Nakhumicha",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "with stakeholders on children and adolescents’ mental health. This meeting highlighted the fragmentation of schools’ mental interventions within the Government's stakeholders. To address this, we have established National School Mental Health Technical Working Group to improve the collaboration and coordination of school mental health interventions, including the development of national guidelines on school and mental health. The third part of the question seeks clarification as to whether psycho-social services are provided in various security service institutions, whether regular mental health support sessions for personnel are held in the workplace; and whether institutions, if any, that serve persons who have conquered mental illness follow their development to ensure that they do not relapse. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Task Force on Mental Health identified security personnel as a special population who require consideration and attention as their needs may not be fully addressed by primary health services. In this regard, the task force has made the following recommendations: (a) Different security service institutions must provide psycho-social services for both managers and staff of disciplined institutions. (b) The institutions should establish regular staff support sessions on mental health in workplace for the officers. (c) The Ministry should continue mainstreaming mental health in all sectors, including the disciplined forces. On implementation of these recommendations, we have made the following progress. The National Workplace Mental Wellness Guidelines were developed with input from the National Police Service. These guidelines have been finalised and due for launch this October. The implementation of these guidelines by the security apparatus is key to the promotion of mental wellness, prevention of mental illness and support for officers with mental problems. Hon. Temporary Speaker and Hon. Members in the Shakahola incident, the Ministry of Health nominated seven psychologists and two psychiatrists to support the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in provision of mental health and psycho-social support services to those affected, including security officers. The National Police Service is represented in the National Mental Health Stakeholders Forum and National Multi-Sectoral Suicide Prevention Committee to enhance collaboration on mental health matters. I submit."
}