Mental Health Bill steers Namibia to compliance with IPU’s universal access in healthcare

EINO VATILENI and IMMANUEL KOOPER in ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE

Vice Chairperson of the National Council Emma Muteka says Namibia has moved with ease to align her health delivery system  with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Committee on Health focus on equity, human rights, and access to health.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing 152nd IPU Assembly and related meetings Muteka said Namibia completed the alignment with the promulgation of the Mental Health Bill of 2025.

“Mental health among youth demands urgent and sustained attention. In Namibia, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people, with national and global data indicating a persistently high burden,” Muteka said.

She said that the bill affirms that mental health is a fundamental human right and strengthens safeguards against discrimination.

The member of parliament added that the Bill  also advances community-based care, and ensures that services are accessible, responsive, and grounded in the realities of the people,especially young people and vulnerable groups.

“These are not just numbers, they reflect the lived realities of young people navigating pressure, stigma, and limited support,” She said.  

She added that more than one in five adolescents report experiencing suicidal thoughts, with many reporting attempts within a recent 12-month period.

She emphasised that Namibia is addressing health challenges by strengthening youth-focused mental health support and early intervention.

This she said creates safe spaces for open dialogue and fights stigma while promoting community-based systems of care that reach people where they are. 

“Mental health must no longer be treated as secondary. It is central to human dignity, social stability, and sustainable development,” she said.

She added, “we recognize that advancing mental health requires collective leadership. As parliamentarians, we carry the responsibility to champion policies that protect, empower, and give voice to those often unheard”.

The vice chairperson said Namibia stands firm in its commitment to ensuring that every individual,especially every young person,has the opportunity not only to survive, but to thrive in dignity and well-being.

EINO VATILENI and IMMANUEL KOOPER are informational officers for the National Assembly.