DEPARTMENTS
ADMINISTRATION
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DISEASE CONTROL
HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT AND MAINTANANCE
MENTAL HEALTH 
Mission
The mission of the department of mental health is to ensure the provision of quality mental health and psychiatric care services thereby improving the quality of life for individuals,families and communities in Zimbabwe.
To achieve this mission the department's responsibilities are:-
• Coordinating the development of comprehensive and integrated national mental health and psychiatric care policies, strategies including budgets and their implementations.
• Periodically review the relevance and adequacy of available mental health and psychiatric care policies.
• Co-ordinating the development of Mental Health Training programme for Health workers and the general public including providing advice on long term Human Resources Development strategies.
• Provide professionals/technical leaderships, advice, support and supervision on mental health and psychiatric care areas.
• Co-ordinate the development, implementation and maintenance of national mental health and psychiatric care programmes, standards and regulations affecting the programme.
• Ensure the provision of quality mental health and psychiatry care through effective and efficient use of appropriate technology.
• Develop and maintain an integral system through which effective direction, co-ordination and control of units providing mental health psychiatric are provided.
• Liase with Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in matters concerning forensic psychiatry.
• Co-ordinate the implementation of Mental Health Act.
• Advocate for high political commitment to department activities.
• Represent the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare on Mental Health issues in intersectional, inter-ministerial, inter-regional and international fora.
Table of Contents
1. Mental Health Act, National Mental Health Policy Regulations
2. Mental Health Programmes
3. Forensic Care
• Mental Health Act, National Mental Health Policy Regulations
• MENTAL HEALTH ACT
This Act consolidate and amend the law relating to the care, detention and after-care of persons who are mentally disordered or intellectually handicapped, whether for the purposes of treatment or otherwise; to provide for the establishment of various boards and the functions of such boards; to repeal the Mental Health Act, 1976; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.
1.2. NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
The Zimbabwe National Mental Health Policy's major aim is to harmonise Mental Health activities and improve quality of care of those living with mental disorders. It provides a frame work within which mental health programmes, projects and activities are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated using the multidisciplinary, multisectoral approaches, community involvement and participation within the context of primary health care to provide all Zimbabweans with the highest achievable mental health care services.
1.3. MENTAL HEALTH REGULATION
The above is Mental Health Regulation Statutory Instrument 62 of 1999.
The regulations are prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Mental Health Act.
2. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME
The main objective of the Mental Health Programme is to reduce morbidity and mortality through promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illnesses.
2.1. Government Mental Health Institutions in Zimbabwe.
Nationally there nine civilian Mental Health Institutions in Zimbabwe.
These being four referral centres which are Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Harare Psychiatric Unit, Parirenyatwa Hospital Annexe and Ngomahuru Hospital. The other provincies have units like Mutoko and Marondera mental health units in Mashonaland East province, Sakubva Psychiatric Ward in Manicaland Province, Gweru Psychiatric Ward in the Midlands Province, Chinhoyi Psychiatric Unit in Mashonaland West Province.
• Mental Health Programme Focus areas are:-
- Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness
- Human Resource
- Programmes and activities strengthening
- Advocacy for Mental Health
- Human Resource Development
- Increasing Mental Health awareness
- Integration of Mental Health Services into the General Health system.
- Co-ordination, Collaboration and Co-operation
3. FORENSIC CARE
There are 3 prison institutions for mentally ill offenders.
These are:- Mlondolozi Special Institution
Harare Central Prison Institution
Chikurubi Special Institution
There are two Special Mental Boards for Bulawayo and Harare. These furnish reports and recommendations to The Mental Health Review Tribunal.
MRS DORCAS SHIRLEY SITHOLE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
P.O. BOX CY 1122
CAUSEWAY
HARARE
Email: dorcshirley@yahoo.com
TELEPHONE: +263 4 723147
+263 4 798537-60 extension 3188
MOBILE: +263 91239132