WeeklySA_AdminRESOURCES: Communities in far-flung areas often forced to rely primarily on non-specialist support from general practitioners and nurses…
By Thuli Zungu
South Africa’s record high unemployment rate, poverty, violence and political and economic instability had exacerbated the upsurge in mental health disorders that followed the pandemic years.
Consequently, says Mediclinic Southern Africa’s mental health general manager Dewald de Langer, the issue of accessibility to mental health support and resources has since come into sharp focus. De Lange says addressing the even greater lack of accessibility among people living in rural and outlying areas, is one of the local healthcare sector’s most pressing challenges.
He says over 30% of South Africans will suffer from a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Currently the most prevalent of these conditions are anxiety, at just under 16%, followed by major depressive disorders and bipolar disorders at almost 10%.
“The unfortunate reality is that many South Africans dealing with mental health conditions face discrimination and stigmatisation, which stands in the way of them being able to access much-needed help. This issue is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where many people in need of mental healthcare fail to reach out for fear of ridicule or rejection,” says de Lange.
Another significant obstacle is the fact that due to the scarcity of mental health facilities and professionals in rural areas, patients who are admitted, often end up in facilities far away from their families and community. What this ultimately means is that their reintegration into society following treatment can be significantly hampered,” says de Lange.
“The plight of mental health patients in rural areas throughout South Africa has been historically under-represented and relatively unexplored when compared to people living in urban areas. Over the last decade however, the issue has attracted the interest of an increasing number of health researchers,” he adds.
One study found that rural medical facilities often did not have psychiatrists or psychologists. Individuals are often forced to rely primarily on non-specialist support from general practitioners and nurses for mental health interventions. This situation was in fact labelled ‘dehumanising’ by the South African Rural Mental Health Campaign Report.
Addressing this issue is something that is close to the hearts of Mediclinic’s Mental Health team. And, according to de Lange, it has become an integral part of the group’s mission to provide top-quality mental healthcare to the entire demographic spectrum in South Africa, with all its diverse cultures and communities. Mediclinic Legae Mental Health, situated in Mabopane, 40km north-west of Tshwane is currently one of 6 mental healthcare facilities located across South Africa, says de Lange.
“With Mediclinic Legae Mental Health being one of the few mental health facilities located within a rural area; where healthcare services are historically very limited, we have brought a much-needed care service to the community.
Patients in need of mental healthcare now have access to specialist psychiatrists at the facility. This means that patients in need can be admitted to a conveniently located facility, offering the same level of treatment and care options available at large urban based facilities,” says de Lange.
By bringing mental health facilities closer to the community, we are able to create awareness and educate the public on how to support friends and family members who may be struggling with mental illness and help them get a deeper understanding of why they often deal with their illnesses alone or in secret, which is typically to avoid any shame or embarrassment.
“Not only do facilities like Mediclinic Legae Mental Health help solve issues of accessibility, they also play a key role in bringing mental health awareness into the public eye, which is crucial to destigmatise the shame that is often associated with seeking out help.
Achieving this aim consistently and with intention, can go a long way in destigmatizing mental health and providing patients with the education they need to understand their treatment options,” he says.
Since its establishment towards the end of last year, the Mediclinic Legae Mental Health facility has been embraced by the community even though there’s still more work to be done to demystify challenges surrounding mental health, he says.
