At just 16, Chisomo Banda of Traditional Authority Kalumbu in Lilongwe took his first puff of chamba (cannabis sativa) and his first sip of alcohol. He did not know that moment would set off a long, painful journey that would nearly destroy his life.

“It started at William Murray Boys Secondary School,” recalls Chisomo. “Some friends convinced me to smoke. I was a boarder, so it was easy to get involved. One morning I came to class drunk, and someone reported me to the head teacher. I was expelled immediately.”

That expulsion marked the beginning of a downward spiral.

“After smoking marijuana, my mind became disorganized. Many times, I felt I was not human. Even my parents did not matter to me,” he says quietly. “Some people say smoking weed makes you feel good—but for me, it was the opposite.”

Chisomo’s mother, Fyness Mwansambo, says her son’s life became a nightmare.

“After he was expelled, we enrolled him at another school in Nathenje, but he continued drinking and smoking. The environment there made things worse,” she recalls.

When Chisomo returned home after being dismissed again, his behavior worsened.

“He started drinking heavily, smoking cannabis all the time, and spraying oil on his body until his skin turned black—you could hardly recognize him,” Mwansambo says. “He sold his clothes, and even my blankets. It was heartbreaking.”

Eventually, Chisomo began showing signs of mental illness—wandering away from home all day and coming back late at night.

In August 2018, a breakthrough came when officials from Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) traced him and encouraged his family to seek help at St. John of God Hospital in Lilongwe.

“They received us so well,” says Mwansambo. “He was given medication and counselling. After some sessions, he told me he had stopped smoking and drinking. We went back for more treatment—and today, he is back to school at Mtenthera Community Day Secondary School. I finally sleep peacefully.”

A shared struggle

Chisomo’s story mirrors that of Sankhani Kamanga, 22, of Khwechu Village in Traditional Authority Kafuzira, Nkhotakota District.

Sankhani’s mental health issues began unexpectedly in 2018, after years of smoking cannabis and drinking excessively.

“I became mentally ill when I was already married and had one child,” he says.

Through counselling and medical care under a Comic Relief-funded Mental Health Care Project implemented by YONECO in partnership with Zomba Mental Hospital and Tackle Africa, Sankhani regained stability.

He now runs a tailoring business and belongs to a Village Savings and Loans (VSL) group.

“My business helps me buy food, soap, and other needs for my family. I earn at least K1,000 a day and save some. I also borrowed money from the VSL group to invest in farming and buy pigeons, which have now multiplied,” he says with a smile.

A growing national concern

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four people globally suffers from some form of mental disorder.

While Malawi has yet to conduct a national study on the issue, a YONECO baseline survey in TAs Mlumbe (Zomba), Kalumbu (Lilongwe), and Kafuzira (Nkhotakota) found that drug and substance abuse remains the most common cause of mental illness in these areas.

Harry Kawiya, a psychiatric clinician at Zomba Mental Hospital, says recent studies show that 20 out of every 100 patients who visit health facilities in Zomba are diagnosed with mental conditions.

In Nkhotakota, Mental Health Clinical Officer Khumbo Nyirenda paints an even grimmer picture.

“We handle between 600 and 700 people with mental health problems each month, with about 15 new cases registered monthly,” Nyirenda says.

He adds that awareness efforts under the YONECO-led project have encouraged more people to seek treatment and counselling.

At Kasitu Health Centre in Nkhotakota, Health Surveillance Assistant Jonathan Chirwa observes that high unemployment among young people drives many to substance abuse.

“With no jobs and little to do, many youths turn to drugs as an escape,” he says.

Facing the problem head-on

YONECO Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire acknowledges progress in improving access to mental health care in Zomba, Lilongwe, and Nkhotakota, but says Malawi still has a long way to go.

“We must strengthen prevention services, especially in schools. Counselling and life skills education should focus not just on passing exams, but on building resilience and decision-making,” Mkandawire says.

He also calls for stronger enforcement of alcohol laws and full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, launched in August 2017, to curb excessive drinking and substance abuse.

“If laws restricting the sale and availability of alcohol were properly enforced, we would prevent many young people from falling into addiction,” he adds.

Kawiya agrees, saying prevention and early intervention are the most effective tools in tackling mental health disorders.

A call for holistic action

Mental health remains one of Malawi’s least addressed public health challenges, yet its impact runs deep — destroying lives, families, and futures.

The stories of Chisomo and Sankhani show that recovery is possible when support, counselling, and compassion meet. But they also serve as a warning — that without coordinated efforts to tackle youth unemployment, drug abuse, and weak enforcement of alcohol laws, the country will remain trapped in a vicious circle of mental health problems.

And for every life that is saved, there are still many others waiting for a chance to heal.