Signs of mental disorders in your leaders and you

“The problem with me is that I am 50 or 100 years ahead of my time. My speed is very fast,” he once said.

Idi Amin Pulse

Such feelings of grandiosity are a common symptom of mental illness.

Enter Donald Trump

The 45^th president of the United States of America is no stranger to such grandiosity.

Donald Trump Pulse

As president, he led America to a showdown with North Korea, then tweeted about having a bigger nuclear button than North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Symptoms of psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric illnesses cannot exist in isolation of other diagnoses such as depression, anxiety or even schizophrenia.

The telltale signs of mental disorders are insomnia, irritability, low self-esteem, lack of energy and poor concentration among others.

Mental disorders in Uganda

In a study conducted, depression, anxiety disorders, and elevated stress levels alongside suicide attempts and suicide are growing phenomena in Uganda.

Again, Uganda is ranked among the top six countries in Africa in rates of depressive disorders.

Overall, it was recently reported by the Ministry of Health that about 14 million Ugandans are suffering from severe mental disorders.

Economic impact

Uganda spends 9.8% of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare, or US$246 annually per person, but just 1% of this goes into mental healthcare. The majority of national mental health funding goes to the national mental health referral hospital, Butabika Hospital.

The way forward

If 14 million Ugandans suffer from mental health issues, it is important that the government and other stakeholders deploy more funds to curing this dire situation. Otherwise, society will not only become a victim of its own frailties but may also produce another Amin.