Stigma keeps Ugandan pupils from seeking help for mental illness

What the report says

Uganda Business News reports that stigma and cultural beliefs are preventing many Ugandan pupils from seeking help for mental health problems. The article, based on research by the African Health and Population Research Center, says some students and adults still describe depression and related distress as something affecting only the wealthy, while others link it to witchcraft, curses or moral weakness. The piece says these attitudes can make learners hide symptoms and avoid counselling or other support.

The report says the researchers gathered views from about 200 learners, teachers, parents, community representatives and policy actors across Kampala, Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara. It found that student distress is often tied to overlapping pressures including poverty, family conflict, bullying, harsh discipline, displacement, disability, substance use and academic stress. Boys and girls may face different expectations, with boys often discouraged from showing emotion and girls facing additional risks linked to harassment and silence.

The article says Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports issued mental health and psychosocial support guidelines for schools in 2025, including a training manual, teachers’ handbook and wellbeing guide. Researchers say the next step is implementing these tools in ways that schools can use without judgement and with proper referral pathways. The report argues that schools should combine awareness with practical changes such as confidential support spaces, trained staff, safer discipline practices and stronger links to health and community services. It adds broader background that mental health responses in schools often work best when they address both individual distress and the social conditions that contribute to it.