‘At the community level, non-governmental and other grassroots organisations should be involved in mental health services,’ a webinar to discuss a recent government white paper was told.
A move to community-based healthcare, specifically for mental health, would help to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness because community and family involvement would be integral parts of the plan.
Clinical psychologist, lecturer and trainer Professor Tirusha Naidoo told those in attendance that the majority of her work is in community settings and she sees first hand what South Africa’s real mental healthcare needs are. She said that it was important to first address the question: What is mental illness?
Naidoo pointed out that there was an issue of over-referral because of a lack of education of staff and that the area of mental health was seen as “too difficult”. She pointed out that as a result of the focus of the health system on deinstitutionalisation, her organisation filled the “in-between space” and helped patients reintegrate better into society. Pretorius said it was imperative to look at the environmental factors that affect the individual’s recovery and to stop the “revolving door pattern” that saw patients relapsing.
A community-based mental healthcare interview has to address the vulnerabilities of individuals, said Lindiwe Dlamini, aShe stressed that there were multiple factors that affected mental health. “Safety and security are important; of late we are not safe in our homes … our cars.”
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