Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital has introduced a call centre to expand access to professional mental health counselling, although details on its telephone number and operating hours are yet to be provided.
Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital has introduced a call centre through which people experiencing mental health challenges can access counselling remotely, in what the hospital says is the first initiative of its kind in Uganda.
The hospital’s Executive Director, Dr Juliet Nakku, announced the initiative while briefing Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi during his tour of the psychiatric facility to assess its operations and the delivery of mental health services.
Dr Nakku said the call centre is intended to expand access to mental health support by enabling people to seek professional counselling without necessarily travelling to the hospital.
“The call centre is intended to make mental health counselling more accessible by providing an avenue through which people can seek professional support remotely,” Dr Nakku said.
The initiative is expected to provide an additional channel for individuals experiencing emotional distress and other psychological challenges to seek guidance, potentially reaching people who might otherwise struggle to access specialised mental health services.
Access to mental health care remains a challenge for some Ugandans because of stigma, limited awareness, transport costs and the distance between their homes and specialised health facilities.
For people living far from Butabika Hospital, seeking professional help may require considerable time and money, while others may avoid visiting psychiatric facilities for fear of being judged by their communities.
The call centre could help address some of these barriers by allowing individuals to seek counselling remotely.
“Some people may need professional help but find it difficult to come to the hospital. Providing counselling remotely can create another opportunity for them to seek assistance,” Dr Nakku said.
The introduction of the call centre is expected to improve access to mental health support, particularly for people who face difficulties visiting health facilities in person.
Through remote counselling, individuals experiencing emotional distress may receive guidance on managing their challenges and determining whether they need further assessment or treatment.
The service could also encourage early intervention by giving people an accessible way to discuss their concerns before their conditions become more difficult to manage.
In addition, online counselling may help reduce transport expenses and the time patients spend travelling to health facilities, while offering a less intimidating first point of contact for people who are reluctant to seek mental health care because of stigma.
However, the effectiveness of the service will depend on the availability of trained counsellors, reliable communication systems, confidentiality safeguards and clear referral procedures for people who require specialised or emergency treatment.
Depending on how the service is organised, counsellors may also help callers identify when they need in-person clinical assessments, specialised treatment or follow-up care.
Dr Nakku’s announcement comes as the Health Minister tours Butabika Hospital, Uganda’s national referral facility for specialised psychiatric care.
The call centre is expected to complement existing services by creating another channel through which people can seek mental health support.
The hospital needs to provide further details about the call centre’s telephone number, operating hours, geographical coverage and any applicable charges to enable the public to access the service.