World Mental Health Day: Are We Doing Enough to Ease the Mental Burden of People Living with TB?
World Mental Health Day: Are We Doing Enough to Ease the Mental Burden of people living with TB?
Each year WHO observes October 10th as World Mental Health Day. The focus on mental health brings back the importance of dialogues on the mental burden of people living with tuberculosis (TB) and their caregivers. Despite being a curable disease, TB often becomes a life-changing experience with considerable disability and a decline in quality of life. The current treatment regimen involves a multi-month course of antibiotics with an extended hospital or respiratory isolation period, particularly in the case of drug-resistant TB. Research indicates that an estimated 34% of people living with tuberculosis suffer from a mental health disorder (Njie and Khan 2022). Additionally, due to the infectious nature of TB, a high level of stress, depression and anxiety are commonly observed among their caregivers (Emami et al. 2015).
TBPPM Learning Network understands the importance of ongoing advocacy to support the mental well-being of people living with TB along with their caregivers and continues the dialogue to highlight what more we should do to ease the burden. At our mental health Friday Forum, TB advocates and community leaders highlighted the key issues and discussed the urgent need to advocate for including mental health in a comprehensive TB care package. They emphasized continued efforts are needed to reduce the stigma associated with TB and mental health, promoting open dialogue and supportive environments. They highlighted the complementary role of mental health interventions in improving TB treatment completion, which showed a measurable impact on TB treatment outcomes. Including families in the care package is also essential, as it addresses gender disparities and supports caregivers effectively. Lastly, engaging communities through awareness, education, and capacity-building initiatives is crucial for reducing the burden of TB and improving mental health outcomes.