As we enter Earth Month and rally to protect our planet, we need to recognize the profound impact climate change effects can have on mental health. Extreme weather events and natural disasters can cause displacement and resource scarcity, as well as infectious disease outbreaks, as seen in Zambia earlier this year when the country experienced a major Cholera outbreak in the wake of unusually high rainfall and flash flooding.

We have successfully implemented a pilot program in four prisons in Uganda, accounting for just 10% of the total incarcerated population. The prevalence of severe mental health disorders among prisoners can be five to 10 times higher than in the general population, with nearly half suffering from depression.

Since October 2023, Zambia has been grappling with a major cholera outbreak that has taken the lives of more than 500 people and infected more than 13,000, leading the government to close down schools and universities until February 12th, 2024. To address the growing need for medical support, a soccer stadium in Lusaka has been converted into a treatment facility and the Zambian government has embarked on a mass vaccination campaign targeting 1.5 million people.