Chainama Hills Hospital sees rise in mental health cases linked to relationship breakdowns

More than 200 people, most of them women, have been treated for severe mental health conditions linked to divorces and failed relationships at Chainama Hills Hospital since January, a hospital official said.

Hospital spokesperson, George Tafuna, said around three-quarters of the cases involved women experiencing depression after being abandoned by their partners.

“We saw about 200 patients this quarter, and three-quarters of those we have seen are women battling anxiety and depression. We have more cases of depression; majority women affected by failed relationship issues and domestic violence,” Tafuna said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

He said many women struggle to cope when left to care for children alone, particularly as traditional extended family support systems give way to nuclear family structures.

The hospital offers psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy to help patients recover and regain independence, especially those who have been financially dependent on their spouses.

For men, Tafuna said, most cases relate to the pressure of providing for their families.

“For a long time men have been dealing with issues of high expectations because they have been taught to be providers for their families,” he said.

He added that occupational therapy is offered to help men develop coping mechanisms, while diversional therapy supports those frustrated by unmet career expectations.

Tafuna also noted that the hospital continues to face stigma, with many people viewing it solely as a psychiatric institution.

He said efforts are underway to raise awareness about the broader range of services offered at the facility.

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