Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month

COMMEMORATING Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month this July, this year the Zululand Mental Health Society is running the theme See me, hear me, include me: The impact of Covid-19 on persons with psychological disability.

Commemorated every July, this year’s theme is focused on raising awareness about the ways in which the global pandemic is affecting people with psychosocial disability (PD).

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The campaign seeks to bring to light the ongoing barriers to mental health services, and ways in which to support people with PD could be improved and made more accessible.

The campaign also highlighted how the pandemic has affected the mental health of all people, not just those with pre-existing mental health conditions.

Cox et al (2020) details that the pandemic, together with the declining economy, has adversely affected the mental health of many people and has further created new obstacles for everyone, especially for those who already had a mental illness.

The pandemic has caused anxiety and fear, with prevention measures such as quarantining and isolation also creating uncertainty, fear and anxiety for persons with PD.

The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) is now calling on people with PD to share their voices and experience with their mental health during the pandemic.

Now more than ever we need to hear, listen and include the voices of people with PD as we call on duty bearers to ensure that people with PD are guaranteed accessibility to services and information during the pandemic.