EMPUMALANGA Clinic in Hwange says its partnership with Friendship Bench Zimbabwe has played a significant part in addressing mental health issues in communities.
Empumalanga Clinic sister-in-charge, Sindiso Mhlanga, said Friendship Bench was recommended to the council by the Health and Child Care ministry.
“Since we started working with them, we have managed to refer numerous patients in need of psychological related services to our Community Health Workers whom they trained,” Mhlanga said.
Friendship Bench has worked with the ministry on matters related to mental health since 2019.
Katiwe Tshuma, a community health worker, said they undertake problem-solving therapy to a number of people including those suffering from depression.
"We ensure that the process is as interactive as possible as we seek the person to come out of his shell and pour their heart out pertaining to what might be troubling them,” Tshuma said.