Mental Health in Lesotho

The mental health crisis in Lesotho is multifaceted. With the second highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world (approximately 20%), mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are abundant. Additionally, many Basotho face the daily stresses of poverty, food insecurity and unemployment. The lack of mental health infrastructure means that many people suffer in silence, unable to access the care they need. Mental health services, particularly in remote regions of the country, are scarce or non-existent, and the stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents individuals from seeking the help they need.

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Help Lesotho has been supporting people to understand their mental health and improve their well-being for twenty years. Their program participants learn that they are not alone with their challenges, and that there is hope for a brighter future. The stigma related to mental health diminish every day. Participants want others to know that they have been to the lowest point of their lives, and that they are relieved that they are still alive today. Their openness to share the pain that has consumed them is a monumental shift towards resilience for the Basotho nation.

                                                               Help Lesotho

                                                               August 2024