Emmanuel Bida Silvas, a psychiatrist at Juba Teaching Hospital during in interview with Eye Radio on Saturday August 24, 2024 - credit: Eye Radio/Moses Awan

A psychiatrist in Juba urges the government to establish fully funded, stand-alone mental health facilities across the country.

Emmanuel Bida Silvas stated that the existing mental health facility at Juba Teaching Hospital cannot handle mental health cases effectively.

According to Bida, there are only 16 beds designated for mentally ill patients at the main referral hospital.

He stressed that mental health should be considered an important aspect of the country’s finances and planning.

“Mental health should be considered as an important aspect of our finances and planning. I do not know if they discuss this in parliament or if they allocate resources for it,” Bida said.

“I think it is really important government should ensure finances are allocated for it. This one facility we have is very limited; it is within a facility we cannot carry a number of admissions,” he said.

“The last time I checked the beds are 16 only so imagining 16 beds for the whole country is not real. We need to step up and establish mental health facilities as a stand-alone in the states, let it be separate because we handle these individuals separately.”

Bida went on to say addressing mental health is important for the country’s wellbeing and economy.

“I still encourage the government to pick interest in Mental Health and to realize that mental health is a very important aspect of our economy and our existence as South Sudanese,” Bida said.

“Since we have gone through many conflicts. Because of these conflicts, we have seen that mental health issues are through the roof, so that is a wake-up call for the government to step up,” he said.