The increasing cases of killings among family members and lovers may be as a result of mental health an anti-drug activist has said.
Reachout Centre Trust Executive director Taib Abdulrahman said despite the debate being ignored, the impact has proved to be drastic and needs urgent attention.
Taib who is also a professional psycho-social and addiction counselor said the anti-drug activist have pushed for a major dialogue over the matter however it has not been properly given the adequate attention it needed.
He said that alcohol and drug use have been the main contributing factor to mental disease.
President Uhuru concerned
During Madaraka day celebration President Uhuru Kenyatta raised concerns over the reckless killings especially witnessed among families in the country, urging families to embrace dialogue.
The president called for a dialogue and efforts from religious leaders, professional counselors among other relevant quarters to deliberate on mental health and come with an amicable solution.
However, Taib says the presidential concerns are long overdue.
Mental health dialogue
“As drug activists we have been pushing the government through the health ministry to initiate such dialogues, we are now experiencing the strong heat,” noted Mr. Taib.
[Mvita MP Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir with Reachout Centre Trust Taib Abdulrahman leading Mombasa residents in marking the International Day Against Drugs and illicit trafficking in Mombasa on June 26th. Photo/Tom Fondo]
He said as anti-drug activists, they have worked tirelessly to salvage the situation, but they have not been accorded the needed support from the government.
“We will witness a lot of heartbreaking occurrences in our own community unless we begin public engagement on mental health issue,” reiterated Mr. Taib.
He urged the government through the Ministry of health to reinvent the wheel and engage anti-drug activists on mental health issue.
He further urged religious leaders to engage their congregants on social dialogues especially the youths and couples on the matter.
Taib expressed concerns over the recent occurrences where lovers, couples and family members have been maiming and killing each other.
In most cases reason being petty a situation that has raised the eyebrows of anti-drug activists and professional counselors at the Coast.
