Mental health in an unequal world

Did you know that only one in 10 people with a mental illness have access to treatment?

This was according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Council (Sadag) during a panel discussion on October 13, highlighting World Mental Health Day (October 10) and the mental health reality facing South Africa today.

The international theme for World Mental Health Day this year was ‘mental health in an unequal world’, a reality that could not be more evident for South Africa.

“The pandemic exerted its influence not only directly through raising people’s anxiety and stress related to the threat of illness or having a loved ones that we have lost, but also through the economic impacts,” said panellist Dr Crick Lund, a professor of global mental health and development.

He was joined by traditional healer Taz Sithole and South African Society of Psychiatrists board member Kagisho Maaroganye.

“Covid-19 has really exacerbated what has already been an unequal world, especially for African people, because the already dominant narrative that we have been operating under has not included African people – access to land or access to rights of passage,” said Sithole.

This is why, when we think about mental health for the country as a whole, it is not only about the treatment and care, said Lund.

“Yes, care and treatment is incredibly important in its own right, but it is also about advocating for better living conditions for all, it is about proving basic food security and basic income security.

“The more that we can do to address these upstream drivers of mental health issues, the better.”

According to an infographic published by Sadag on October 10, its communication channels have seen an almost 160% increase in calls in comparison to 2019.

From January to September the group saw:

• A total of 466 407 calls received, averaging at 2 200 calls per day.
• This is a increase of 47.75% from the previous year.
• One in five calls to the helpline were suicide related.
• A total of 85 516 suicide helpline calls were recorded
• A total 105 390 online requests for help were submitted.

Sadag director Cassey Chambers added that mental illness does not discriminate so it is important to improve access to treatment and break down the stigma. “We owe it to everyone who feels alone, or isolated, or ashamed of their mental illness. We owe it to families who are impacted and don’t know how to get help or support, and we owe it to our most vulnerable group of people who are not able to speak for themselves and deserve better care and treatment today and every day,” said Chambers.

Need to speak to someone? Sadag Helplines providing free telephonic counselling, information, referrals and resources:

• Call the Sadag helpline on 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 456 789
• Chat online with a counsellor seven days a week from 09:00 to 16:00 via the Cipla WhatsApp Chatline on 076 882 2775.
• SMS 31393 or 32312 and a counsellor will call you back – available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Call the suicide helpline on 0800 567 567.

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https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/286366/sadag-reflects-on-an-unprecedented-year/

https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/286366/sadag-reflects-on-an-unprecedented-year/