Zambia

In Zambia, safeguarding systems for children and adults are shaped by a blend of national legislation, traditional values, and community-based support networks. Key legal instruments such as the Juveniles Act and the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act provide frameworks for protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Zambia has also ratified international conventions like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, challenges remain, including underreporting of abuse, limited access to social services, and prevailing cultural norms that discourage disclosure, especially in rural areas. Safeguarding is often managed within families or local communities, and state intervention may be seen as a last resort. Zambian students in the UK may be unfamiliar with structured safeguarding systems or may feel reluctant to raise personal concerns due to stigma, fear of judgment, or the cultural expectation to handle difficulties privately or within the family.

Mental health in Zambia is increasingly being recognised as an important public health issue, but services remain limited and stigma remains strong. Mental illness is often misunderstood and may be attributed to spiritual causes or seen as a taboo subject, particularly in rural communities. While urban areas offer some psychiatric care and counselling services, there is a significant shortage of trained mental health professionals, and mental health is not yet widely integrated into primary healthcare. As a result, Zambian students may have limited exposure to mental health support systems and may be hesitant to seek help due to fear of stigma or unfamiliarity with counselling. UK university professionals can support Zambian students by offering clear, culturally sensitive explanations of available wellbeing services, emphasising confidentiality, and framing mental health care as a form of personal resilience and academic support. Building trust through respectful engagement, peer mentorship, and accessible, stigma-free services can make a significant difference in encouraging help-seeking behaviour.