Mental disorders have significant health, social and economic consequences to on individual, family and society in diverse ways. Recent evidence from high-income countries suggests that people with mental disorders die 15 to 20 years earlier.17 The causes of this premature death have been associated with suicide and co-morbidity such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer.10, 17-21However, in SSA the mortality statistic is largely unknown. On the other hand, people with mental disorders are reported to have their condition aggravated by the mixed societal response.22 Consequently, they are subjected to stigma, discrimination, abuse, homeless, live in unhygienic condition, exclusion from participation in social and community activities.
