PUBLIC FACILITIES
Premier David Makhura must drive mental health overhaul
The World Happiness Report 2018, in which SA was rated 105th out of 156 countries, says mental health is the biggest single factor affecting happiness in any country. Yet only a quarter of mentally ill people in advanced countries get treatment for their conditions and fewer receive help in poorer countries. The ratio of professionals to patients in SA’s public mental health facilities is 11.95 per 100,000. Of these, 0.28 per 100,000 are psychiatrists, 0.45 other medical doctors (not specialised in psychiatry), 10.08 nurses, 0.32 psychologists, 0.40 social workers, 0.13 occupational therapists and 0.28 other health or mental health workers. In other words, there is one psychiatrist per 400,000 people and one psychologist per 300,000 people. The Department of Health’s National Mental Health Policy Framework of 2013 estimates that 16.5% of the country’s adult population experience a 12-month prevalence of an anxiety, mood, impulse or substance abuse disorder. If SA’s adult population ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.