The Fort Portal Referral Hospital Mental Health Unit receives 1,400 patients of mental illnesses annually, signifying a rise in psychiatric complaints in the Rwenzori region.

Nyakahuma Edward, a psychiatrist attached to the Buhinga regional referral Hospital says mental illnesses are on the rise in the Rwenzori Region and have majorly affected the youth due to their addiction to drugs such as opium and alcohol.

He says discloses that the Mental Health Unit has embarked on a sensitization program among the youth in schools on the dangers of drug abuse.

Nyakahuma is also appealing to members of the public to take people they suspect to be having mental disturbances to the psychiatric hospital unit.

By Rogers Sunday