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{
    "id": 1460315,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1460315/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nyeri Town, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Duncan Mathenge",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "When we come to the family set up, by the time families or individuals decide to go and seek help for depression, it is almost rather too late and advanced. Therefore, we need to have people within the community who are able to pick these early warning signs. Depression is not the only medical disorder as it has been ably communicated by the speakers before me. We also need to revisit the Mental Health Act which was first established in 1978 and was only amended once in 2018. We need, as a House, to revisit that Act in order to align it to the current realities on mental health. I believe there is a connection between the escalating cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and mental health. If you look at the cost to the economy of both mental health, GBV and suicide cases which have now been reported in primary school kids, it is enormous. A perusal of the suicide records within our police stations would give us a clear map and inform the gravity of this situation. Lastly, is the training of the personnel that are needed to treat those who are already diagnosed with mental health issues. More than half of the counties, approximately 50 per cent of our counties today do not have psychiatrists. The country has a severe shortage of psychiatrists. Psychiatric nurses also have a huge shortfall. Therefore, there is a need also as House to again vote in money and ring fence them specifically to go towards the training of mental health medical personnel. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to support."
}