The Causes of Mental Illness Among Shona People by Shona Elders in Harare

Mental illness has been part of a global disease burden for years. The greatest challenge has been the scarcity of health professionals. However, indigenous knowledge system has been a resource that has been marginalized in understanding and treating mental illness. This study aimed to explore the causes of mental illness identified by Shona elders, with the view of capturing the psychological themes entrenched in their culturally constructed experiences. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five elders and analyzed using the interpretive phenomenological explication method by Hycner. The elders reported frequent exposure to mentally ill individuals within their community. Findings suggest that Shona elders understand a spiritual component dominates mental illness causes. Also, biological and social factors cause mental illness. These findings indicate that there is some congruence on principle and difference in practice between understanding of mental illness by indigenous knowledge system and mainstream psychology. Our results have questioned the absence of valuing cultural approaches in mental illness research. African countries need to review their mental health policies and implementation. There is a need for culture-sensitive practice to maintain the respect of indigenous people.