Ashley and I completed a needs assessment in regards to persons with disabilities, and during this phase, we interviewed the Executive Director of Mental Health Uganda. This is an issue that I feel strongly about, and after sitting learning about the status of mental health in Uganda, I am slightly mortified, although Ashley, who bore the brunt of my post-interview rant may think slightly isn’t a strong enough word. The most common diagnoses in Uganda in regards to mental health are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This doesn’t compute with the most common diagnoses found in society. Although it very well could be that people don’t seek treatment until it is significantly noticeable (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), I have an alternate theory. Unfortunately, the medical professionals who are making diagnoses are doctors or nurses who have taken a basic training course and are armed with the DSM-IV (the manual we use in North America for diagnosing mental health issues). In Canada, psychologists must get a 4 yr honours with thesis degree in psychology and then a 2 year masters degree at which point they can diagnosis under someone’s supervision. Only after completing a doctorate in psychology is a person qualified to diagnosis mental health issues on their own. I realize that for logistical reasons they must be more lax in Uganda, however that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are ethical issues surrounding the misdiagnosing of people, a lot of negative social stigma surrounding people with mental disabilities, and many misconceptions. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis of a mental disorder can follow a person and I have seen this in action here. It bothers me that people who are not adequately trained seem to hand out these diagnoses like candy. Some people believe that it is spirits possessing people and that is why they have mental issues. These issues are sidelined in the fight for persons with disabilities and even within our own publication on persons with disability, the focus is on physical disabilities rather than mental disabilities. I hope that in the future I can come back and advocate for change in this aspect of society.