The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day and a recent study revealed that one in every six South Africans suffers from anxiety, depression or substance abuse problems. This does not include more serious conditions such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia.

Another review from the Western Cape estimates that 17 percent of children and adolescents in the province have mental health conditions.

According to two studies, 35-41 percent of women experience depression during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.

This is three times higher than rates from high income countries.

Over 40 percent of people living with HIV in South Africa have a diagnosable mental disorder. Home-based caregiver support structures and training are in place through Sadag, the biggest Mental Health Advocacy Network, which currently receives no Government funding at all and supports 16 National Help lines and has over 100 counsellors. Toll free 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 20 50 26. SMS 31393

Only 27 percent of South Africans are receiving treatment, meaning that nearly three-quarters are not accessing any form of mental health care.

What is South Africa's progress?

• Nearly 50 percent of community-based residential facilities are provided by non-governmental organisations, which are often poorly funded.
• There is still a limited integration of mental health care into primary health care.
• While provincial data vary significantly, there is significant shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists in the public health sector, with evidence that many are working in the private sector.
• Only 1.4 percent of the country's outpatient facilities are for children and adolescents only.

What does this mean for our country?

The lack of accessible mental health care in South Africa places people with mental illness at risk of stigmatisation, human rights abuses and exclusion from their communities.

Poor mental health also places one at risk of developing further health problems such as HIV/Aids as a result of increased risk-taking behaviour.

What do we need to do?

• Fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness and mental health care users.
• Increase commitment to the integration of mental health services into the general health system, so that people accessing obstetric care, testing or treatment or HIV/Aids, or other health care services, are able to receive mental health care at the same point of care.
• Utilise resources for mental health in a more efficient manner at all levels.
• Develop accessible, community-based services for psychosocial rehabilitation, treatment of common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, and mental health promotion and prevention activities. Sadag are initiating counselling services in townships which means patients don't have to spend R30 or R40 to get to care. This is considerably more in rural communities.
• Increase investment in initiatives such as early childhood development programmes and school-based counselling and support. Currently Sadag runs workshops teaching schools that suicide shouldn't be a secret, suicide prevention workshops enabling youth to know where to go for help and how to get help for a friend. Toll free 0800 12 13 14 or sms 32312 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

For further Information, please contact:
Cassey Amoore 011 262 6396 / 082 835 7650 or office@anxiety.org.za
Zane Wilson 011 262 6396 / 083 321 4163

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