Hundreds of Gulu district residents yesterday took on a toll in a marathon to create awareness on mental health
Under the theme of “working together to end suicide” participants engaged in a fitness drill before being flagged off by Rev. Father Martin Agwee representing Archbishop of Uganda, John Baptist Odama
It was a ten kilometer run and participants started from the district headquarters through custom comer, Layibi, Cerelenu through ring road to Pece had a combination of health workers, University students, community members and political figures notable, Betty Ochan, the leader of opposition in parliament
Speaking to Pat Robert Larubi, the communications officer Mental Health Uganda, He told Westnilexpozed that the run comes at a time when Acholi sub region is said to be with an alarming figures on the rate of suicide
“Omoro district has been in the spotlight over suicide related death and creating awareness by involving champions, service users and those with live experience is one one way to helping reduce on the impact of suicide” Pat Robert said
A number of these cases have been attributed to domestic violence, alcoholism and trauma.
Pat Robert added that people who experience mental health problems over the course of the life time have exhibited change in their thinking, moods and behavior
Many factors lead to mental health problems be it biological factors such as genes, life experience including truama and abuse besides family history of mental problems.
Mental health determines how we relate to others, handles stress and make choices in our daily life situation.
As it’s popularly said, there is no health without mental health, talking and supporting people in all life situation will help reduce incidences of suicidal thoughts
