The government is ramping up efforts to provide psychological support for the nation’s youth through a dual approach that combines livelihood programs with accessible counseling services.
This comes amid growing concerns over the mental well-being of young people, particularly in relation to substance abuse.
Minister of Gender, Youth, and Social Development, Pitso Lesaoana, affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing initiatives that address the psychological challenges faced by young people.
“The government is committed to ensuring that youth have access to livelihood programs that shield them from psychological distress,” Lesaoana stated.
Through its social development department, the Ministry has deployed social workers and auxiliary social workers across all ten districts and various councils to provide counseling and support services.
Lesaoana also revealed ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education and Training to integrate mental health support services directly into schools.
“We have already engaged with the Ministry of Education and Training to explore ways of placing social workers and auxiliary social workers in schools so that children can receive support from an early age,” he explained.
A central focus of the government’s intervention is combating the rising tide of drug abuse, which Lesaoana identified as a leading cause of mental illness among youth.
In a related initiative, Lesaoana announced the construction of a multi-purpose center aimed at supporting women experiencing depression due to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The center will also offer skills training and educational opportunities for their children, acknowledging that many of the women will bring their children with them.
Prime Minister Samuel Matekane echoed these concerns, expressing alarm at the visible impact of substance abuse on the streets.
“I have personally witnessed young people abusing alcohol during the night and early in the morning,” Matekane said. “We do not want that kind of youth.”
He emphasised the urgent need for intervention, stressing that the future of the country’s leadership depends on supporting young people to overcome substance abuse.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Selibe Mochoboroane raised further alarm over the widespread drug abuse in the country, calling for the revival of the Blue Cross Society of Lesotho’s rehabilitation center in Thaba-Bosiu. The center was shut down several years ago due to prolonged funding disagreements with the Ministry of Health.
Since the closure of the Blue Cross Center, Lesotho has had no dedicated rehabilitation facility for individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Neither government institutions nor private or faith-based healthcare providers currently offer such services on a national scale.
Mochoboroane highlighted the growing strain substance abuse places on the country’s overstretched healthcare system, particularly institutions like the Mohlomi Mental Hospital, where a significant number of patients are admitted due to substance-related issues.
He also expressed concern over the increasing rates of drug abuse among high school and university students, key segments of Lesotho’s future workforce and leadership.
“Due to the high rate of drug abuse among youth,” he said, “the Ministry has prioritised the revival of the Blue Cross rehabilitation center.”
Mochoboroane further revealed that he had personally visited the Thaba-Bosiu site to assess what is required to restore the center’s operations.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
