Today, BONELA joins the nation and the global community in commemorating World Mental Health Day 2025 under the theme “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.” This year’s theme serves as a strong reminder that mental health is not a privilege but a fundamental component of the right to health one that must be safeguarded before, during, and after crises. As the world continues to grapple with multiple humanitarian, economic, and climate-related challenges, access to mental health care must remain a national and global priority.
From climate shocks and floods to pandemics, economic instability, and gender-based violence, the toll of emergencies on mental wellbeing is profound. In every crisis, people living with HIV, survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTIQ+ persons, adolescents, frontline workers, and those in rural or low-resource settings experience disproportionate psychological distress and reduced access to care. Stigma, under-resourced health systems, and lack of emergency preparedness further compound the mental health burden. BONELA therefore calls for robust, inclusive, and rights-based mental health services that are accessible to all without discrimination, ensuring that no one is left behind during times of crisis.
A rights-based approach to mental health requires that services be available, accessible, acceptable, and of high quality. These principles must be grounded in non-discrimination and equality, participation, and accountability ensuring that mental health systems uphold dignity, equity, and transparency.
On this World Mental Health Day, BONELA urges the Government of Botswana and its partners to integrate mental health into all national and district-level emergency preparedness and response frameworks. This includes the provision of psychological first aid, continuity of treatment during crises, and post-emergency follow-up. The government must guarantee uninterrupted access to medication, counselling, and referrals, especially for individuals on chronic treatment such as HIV and TB. To ensure equitable reach, BONELA calls for the expansion of community-based and digital mental health services, including tele-mental health platforms, toll-free helplines, and peer support networks that can function during movement restrictions or disasters.
Moreover, BONELA urges investment in the health and social service workforce through training for healthcare providers, teachers, social workers, and first responders on trauma-informed and rights-based care. Protection systems for survivors of gender-based violence and minors must also be strengthened through the establishment of safe shelters, legal aid services, and rapid referral pathways. In addition, BONELA calls for increased funding for civil society partnerships, recognising that community-led initiatives play a crucial role in reducing stigma, expanding outreach, and ensuring inclusive service delivery.
Finally, the collection and publication of disaggregated data on mental health needs and service access—by age, gender, location, disability, and population group—are essential for targeted resource allocation and accountability. Evidence-based planning is critical to ensuring that resources reach those most in need and that mental health services remain resilient during emergencies.
BONELA remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing laws, policies, and practices that realise the right to health for all. We will continue working with government, development partners, health providers, and communities to ensure that mental health care in Botswana is accessible, acceptable, of high quality, and available to everyone; especially when catastrophes and emergencies strike.
For more information, contact BONELA on:
Cindy Kelemi at cindyk@bonela.org or 72385054
Katlego Sechele at ksechele@bonela.org or 72282025