Eight years later — what does psychiatric care look like after Life Esidimeni?
Bhekisisa’s ‘Health Beat’ visits a community mental health organisation and talks to Section27, the Gauteng government and a counselling organisation to find out
01 August 2024 - 06:00
byJessica Pitchford, Mia Malan, Anna-Maria van Niekerk, Yolanda Mdzeke, Thatego Mashabela, Cebelihle Bhengu, Hannah Glaser, Astra Rincón Montañez and Ruan Visser
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Family members of victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy celebrate after former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke ordered that the government pay R1.2m to affected families. Picture: ALAISTER RUSSELL/SUNDAY TIMES
Eight years since the Life Esidimeni fiasco, condemned as a shameful human rights violation, psychiatric care in our public health system is still wanting.
Suicidal young people often have to wait weeks for counselling, while homes for those living with mental and physical disabilities are few and far between.
It’s an environment that needs more education and larger budgets, say experts.
Health Beat visits a centre in Hammanskraal that is, despite challenges, providing a stimulating environment for disabled children.
Mia Malan also speaks to Section27’s Sasha Stevenson about how Gauteng health department officials responsible for the Life Esidimeni deaths should be punished, and to the mental health organisation Heal SA about students’ counselling needs.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Eight years later — what does psychiatric care look like after Life Esidimeni?
Bhekisisa’s ‘Health Beat’ visits a community mental health organisation and talks to Section27, the Gauteng government and a counselling organisation to find out
Eight years since the Life Esidimeni fiasco, condemned as a shameful human rights violation, psychiatric care in our public health system is still wanting.
Suicidal young people often have to wait weeks for counselling, while homes for those living with mental and physical disabilities are few and far between.
It’s an environment that needs more education and larger budgets, say experts.
Health Beat visits a centre in Hammanskraal that is, despite challenges, providing a stimulating environment for disabled children.
Mia Malan also speaks to Section27’s Sasha Stevenson about how Gauteng health department officials responsible for the Life Esidimeni deaths should be punished, and to the mental health organisation Heal SA about students’ counselling needs.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
ALSO READ:
What Life Esidimeni and Gauteng’s late payment of NGOs have in common
Shunned: The hidden cost of speaking out about Life Esidimeni
How the Gauteng government makes up its own social welfare funding rules
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.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.