As the world places mental health under the spotlight with the marking of the World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the health department will continue to strengthen its mental health programmes to ensure that mental health does not remain on the fringes of health care delivery in our country.
The theme for this year's commemoration is "Mental Health in Primary Care: Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health".
This theme addresses significant trends in shifting mental health diagnosis, treatment and care for mental health patients from the traditional separate but unequal mental health delivery system into the mainstream healthcare.
South Africa is already one of the countries that has done some progress in the decentralisation of mental health packages of care from tertiary to primary health care level in line with its objectives of ensuring access. Until recently, provision of mental health care services was delivered at tertiary level facilities, and thus making access to such services very difficult and in some instances impossible.
This kind of decentralisation allows users to access services closer to their homes, thus keeping families together and minimises stigma and discrimination.
The campaign theme is intended to draw attention to the growing body of knowledge in integration which emphasises the benefits of enhancing overall health and promoting mental health by integrating health services.
As the world observes this important day, the Department of Health calls on members of the society to take mental health seriously. Those who already have mental illnesses should be given the necessary support, love, respect and dignity by health workers and society in general in line with our culture of human rights.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Tel: 079 517 3333
Issued by: Department of Health
8 October 2009
