By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
LEBIALEM, Cameroon – The ongoing sociopolitical crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon has deeply affected this part of the country, leading to a significant rise in mental health cases. The sheer number of cases recorded during this year’s health campaign by LECUDO-USA in Fontem highlights the urgent need to prioritize mental health care.
Dr Elizabeth Belleh Nkem psychiatry nurse practitioner, who headed the Mental Health Department, noted a concerning trend of psychotic fear anxiety, and depression among the population.
“With over 450 cases recorded, I can say this year’s mental health campaign was highly successful. Over the past few years, stigma has kept many people from opening up about their struggles. However, this year, we strengthened our awareness efforts, which helped bring many of these cases to light. Mental health should be given as much attention as any other illness,” Dr Elizabeth Belleh emphasized.
A large portion of the recorded cases revealed that stigma continues to prevent people from speaking out. Dr Elizabeth added: “We found that many individuals especially children are dealing with trauma. They spoke about their experiences of hearing gunshots, living in fear, and being overwhelmed by depression. These challenges have caused severe mental instability.”
Restoring Confidence and Providing Support
To help patients regain confidence, the team focused on counselling, listening, and providing necessary prescriptions. “The key was to make them feel heard,” Dr Elizabeth Belleh said.
“By actively listening and gaining their trust, they became more open about their struggles. Since I was new to them, this unfamiliarity surprisingly worked in my favour, as it encouraged them to share their experiences more freely.”
She expressed hope that the upcoming 90-day follow-up program would provide long-term support. “We have collected contact details to ensure proper follow-up and help these individuals achieve the stability they deserve.”
Breaking Barriers to Build Trust
Mental health issues affect men, women, and children alike, making it crucial to break barriers and provide adequate support. Dr Elizabeth Belleh added that language was not a barrier to her because she is a daughter of the soil.
“In some cases, I conducted screenings and counselling sessions in Nweh, while in others, I used Pidgin English to ensure patients felt comfortable enough to share their experiences. This approach helped build trust and confidence,” she explained.
With greater attention given to the mental health department this year, the campaign successfully met its objectives. “We have done meaningful work here,” Dr Elizabeth Belleh said.
“Hearing these stories firsthand was deeply emotional, but the success of this campaign would not have been possible without LECUDO-USA. We hope that next year will provide another opportunity to continue raising awareness and supporting mental health in our community.”
