‘Lazy, weak, bewitched’ – how stigma stops Uganda’s children from getting help, and what schools can do about it

“Me who is a poor person, do I have the luxury to have depression? No, it is only you who is rich that has the luxury to have depression.” This statement , shared by a research participant in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, captures a persistent misconception: that depression belongs to wealthy people or those whose lives are comfortable enough to permit emotional vulnerability.

It is an example of how socio-cultural beliefs can become a barrier to recognising mental health problems and seeking support.

In 2025, Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports issued a set of mental health and psychosocial support policy guidelines and resources for schools .

These included a training manual, teachers’ handbook and wellbeing guide.

They provide practical information on recognising distress, psychosocial support, referral and wellbeing in education settings.

The next challenge is to put the guidelines into practice.

Our team of researchers at the African Health and Population Research Center did a study to provide evidence that would help schools in Uganda follow the guidelines.

We looked at what people understand by mental health, what learners and staff need, school capacity and what needs to happen first to put the guidelines into action.

The study engaged 200 learners, teachers, parents, community representatives, policy actors and development partners across four districts: Kampala, Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara.

Kampala is the capital city; Jinja is a mixed rural-urban context.

Gulu is an area affected by conflict and displacement.

Mbarara is an education and economic hub with urban and rural schools.

We found socio-cultural and gender norms strongly influenced whose distress was recognised, how it was explained and whether seeking help was considered acceptable.

Mental health at school was linked to issues like literacy, spirituality, poverty, family instability, displacement, disability and trauma.