Financial stress a major cause of mental health challenges in Adjumani

Financial stress has been identified as one of the leading causes of mental health challenges among community members in both the refugee and host populations of Adjumani district.

This is according to findings shared during a financial literacy and mental health awareness engagement held over the weekend.

The event, organised by Train a Girl Uganda in partnership with community stakeholders, was in preparation for the upcoming suicide awareness performance event under the theme: Creating Safe Spaces for Mental Health Conservation.

Representatives from Stanbic Bank, Centenary Bank, community leaders, and mental health advocates took part in the event and addressed the growing link between financial hardship and psychological distress.

Speaking during the meeting, Langoya Manara, the Stanbic Bank branch manager for Adjumani, noted that the majority of families in the district continue to experience emotional strain due to poor financial management and rising economic pressures.

“The banking sector is a high-pressure environment. One of the major contributing factors I have observed over time is that even fellow colleagues fail to budget effectively, which tends to create a lot of stress.

“Much as we are in the business of lending, the money business of giving out money, we try as much as possible to get people to borrow for projects that can generate income and not focus on borrowing for paying school fees,” Manara said.

Similarly, Denis Wokorach, Manager of Centenary Bank Adjumani branch, emphasised the importance of developing strong financial principles and saving habits. He urged both refugees and host community members to seek guidance from financial institutions on how to better manage their finances.

“To manage financial stress, of course, the first step is to investigate what is causing this financial stress. That is the basic role number one because if you know it, then you can manage it. So, the first thing is to try to diagnose what is causing that financial stress. Is it overspending? Is it impulse buying?”

The other idea is to try to streamline the budget because you have the incomes, Wokorach said. “Save and say, “You know what? This month I’m going to save these shares. If you start from that side, you’ll find that you will be able to knock off some of the things that you don’t necessarily need to.”

Mental health practitioners attending the event also raised concerns over the increasing number of individuals showing symptoms of depression and anxiety due to financial struggles, family responsibilities, and unemployment.

Briani Asiimwe, a mental health advocate who doubles as the psychosocial counsellor working with Totapuna, urges the community to adopt different ways of managing their stress without causing damage.

“For me, I view stress as something very normal. It depends on how it entered you. But if you are resilient enough, there are many ways of coping that many people don’t see. These people who commit suicide, their emotions are too much that even their thoughts are no longer there.”

Community members who attended the engagement welcomed the initiative, saying it opened their eyes to the importance of financial planning and saving culture.

Dipio Francis, the district probation officer, has appealed to the government through the bank managers: “There are many government programs which are targeting the communities, but the conditions are really harsh. So, please, to the two bank managers, let’s try to minimise some of these conditions so that our people can access it easily, especially the youths.”

The event concluded with a call from local leaders urging both financial institutions and humanitarian partners to continue supporting financial literacy trainings, especially for youth and women groups, to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce mental health burdens.

The event underscored the growing recognition that financial wellness is a crucial component of mental health and that improving financial habits can significantly enhance the overall well-being of communities in Adjumani district.