Health Department tackles issues around mental health
The Department of Health celebrated Mental Health Day and has embarked on a program to raise awareness of mental issues, especially in communities where talk of mental health remains taboo.
National Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla and KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane commemorated World Mental Health Day at an event held at the Madadeni Hospital, Newcastle, last Tuesday (October 10).
The event, held under the theme,”Mental Health is a Universal Right,” aimed at attempting to remove the stigma of mental illness among local communities.
” We often heard of cases of old people being killed because they have been accused of practicing witchcraft only to discover that the cause of their often strange actions, such as wandering around at night, was due to dementia or amnesia,” said Simelane.
The Department of Health has asked communities and organisations to develop an environment in which individuals may openly discuss mental health issues and share their experiences.
Simelane added that drug use impacts on the development of mental illnesses and appealed to especially the youth to abstain from drugs like marijuana, which negatively affects the mind.
She concluded by pleading with the community to be more open to discussing issues around mental health.
“We come from a background where depression, dementia and other mental illnesses are not recognised but we need to get over that.”
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