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Mental Health in South Africa: The Good News

Mental Health in South AfricaThe South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) conducted a study that revealed the shocking state of mental health in the country. In fact, one-third of South Africans have a mental illness. However, 75 percent of them will not get any kind of help.

This is where SADAG comes in. SADAG is Africa’s largest mental health support and advocacy group. It is made up of experts who take calls from South Africans about their mental health questions and concerns. The group has a 16-line “counseling-and-referral” call center and work in “urban, peri-urban and the most rural communities across South Africa.”

SADAG is comprised of a network of over 200 mental health treatment facilities and support groups throughout the country. Its focus is on areas lacking widespread community health resources. The organization believes access to this type of treatment is fundamental to improving mental health in South Africa. Additionally, SADAG believes it can improve the overall quality of life while simultaneously influencing socio-economic issues in a positive way.

SADAG and Language

Since South Africa has 11 different official languages, SADAG offers workshops and training programs tailored to these languages for individual members. In fact, the programs also are tailored to corporate businesses, healers, doctors, care workers, correctional facilities, schools and churches.

Workshops and Campaigns

These workshops focus on how to openly and productively talk about illnesses such as depression, panic disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD and suicide prevention. Furthermore, the workshop explores healthy ways to deal with stress in an attempt to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

SADAG is also working to disseminate mental health awareness beyond just those member organizations within the group. They have created media campaigns with a message of de-stigmatization of mental illness that runs on TV and radio. Additionally, the campaign runs via print and electronic press releases.

Finally, SADAG has been working especially hard with HIV and AIDS patients on coping skills to conquer depression and other mental illnesses that accompany a diagnosis. This is pivotal in the country where the leading cause of death is HIV/AIDS.

There are several other organizations located in the nine different provinces doing important work to improve mental health in South Africa.

  1. Care Haven Psychiatric Centre: This center provides residential accommodation and an arts and crafts area. The main purpose is to provide therapeutic care for those with mental illnesses who have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals, and who struggle to function independently in society.
  2. Port Elizabeth Mental Health: Located in Port Elizabeth, this organization provides social work intervention services, skills training and prevention towards better mental health. It also promotes neighborhood unities for children with disabilities who cannot access special daycare centers. Finally, the organization offers youth skills development centers.
  3. Bloemcare Psychiatric Hospital: This is a private psychiatric hospital in Bloemfontein in the Free State. It offers psychiatric programs and nursing care. Its programs help develop coping skills and group therapy environments to connect with others. Furthermore, the hospital has recreational facilities and dietitians to help promote the balance between physical and mental health.
  4. SA Federation for Mental Health: This is the largest mental health organization in South Africa located in Randburg, South Africa. They work to implement national awareness campaigns, empower mental health care users and organizations, advocate for human rights of mental health care users and conduct mental health research.
  5. Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre: Located in Katlehong, South Africa, this center provides HIV/AIDS support and a bereavement program to counsel infected children, youth and adults.
  6. PsySSA: The Psychological Society of South Africa works to negotiate with the government and other legislative bodies to create programs that focus on mental health awareness development. Specifically, these programs focus on the unique circumstances of a post-Apartheid society.
  7. Durban & Coastal Mental Health Society: In addition to standard psychiatric care, this organization offers protective training workshops that promote self-worth, dignity and self-reliance for those with mental illnesses. The organization does this through job creation initiatives that encourage block making projects, gardening projects and supported employment.
  8. NICRO: This organization focuses on social crime prevention, juvenile justice and the reintegration of criminals into society during a tough transition.
  9. Mpumalanga Mental Health Society: Located in Secunda, South Africa, this organization advocates for the rights of the disabled, trains caregivers and provides social work services to those dealing with substance abuse.
  10. Careline Clinic: The goal of this clinic is to provide care while upholding human dignity. It provides psychotherapy and crisis resolution skills to encourage empathy for patients going through emotional trauma.
  11. MSF Rustenburg: This international NGO provides medical services and support, initiated by Doctors Without Borders. It focuses on providing support to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. It is located in Rustenburg, South Africa.
  12. Bendiga House: Bendiga House is a facility helping those in recovery from trauma and those suffering from mental illness. It teaches independent living through lessons. For example, lessons are offered on budgeting, shopping and chores. It also provides group and music therapy, life skills training, exercise programs and supervised leisure and entertainment.

These great initiatives are tackling inter-sectional and systemic barriers that prevent adequate care for many marginalized communities. Overall, mental health in South Africa is improving via these organizations and initiatives.

– Meredith Breda
Photo: Flickr

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7 Health Care Innovations in sub-Saharan Africa

Innovations in sub-Saharan Africa are emerging, aiming to improve sanitary conditions and facilitate access to medical care, directly combatting some of the region’s most prominent health crises. Due to health and sanitation concerns being a primary factor in high rates of illness and morbidity, advances in technology are progressively bettering the quality of life of many citizens in these regions.

7 Health Care Innovations in sub-Saharan Africa

  1. The Mamaope Jacket
    In Uganda, a leading cause of infant mortality is pneumonia. In its early stages, pneumonia can be difficult to distinguish from malaria. As a result, misdiagnosis is the leading cause of infant and toddler deaths attributed to pneumonia. One of the innovations of sub-Saharan Africa became the solution to reducing the impacted community. The Mamaope Jacket was created by a Ugandan engineer, Brian Turyabagye. This Mamope Jacket records audio of a child’s breathing via a modified stethoscope inserted into a vest. Analyzing this data aids in detecting key signs of pneumonia. It is estimated that the Mamaope Jacket’s diagnostic rate is three to four times faster than a traditional doctor, and also greatly reduces the risk of human error.
  2. SafariSeat
    Access to wheelchairs and other assisted mobility devices is severely limited in rural regions of developing nations. However, the SafariSeat is changing this; the SafariSeat is an inexpensive, durable wheelchair. This offers both a solution to individuals living with limited mobility in rural areas and is environmentally sustainable. SafariSeat is both produced and maintained using bicycle parts to create a wheelchair suitable for use in all terrain types.
  3. NIFTY Cup
    The NIFTY cup is lowering the rate of infant deaths from malnourishment by providing a cost-effective, convenient way to feed newborns unable to breastfeed. Some causes of not being able to breastfeed include birth defects such as a cleft palate or premature birth. Amongst the other innovations of Sub-Saharan Africa, the NIFTY cup funnels breast milk from the main cup into a small reservoir that a baby can sip from easily without choking or spilling. The creator, a mother herself, Trish Coffey, created the NIFTY cup after giving birth to her daughter prematurely. Manufacturing a NIFTY cup costs just $1, a viable alternative to breastfeeding for impoverished rural communities such as Tanzania and Malawi. In addition, it is reusable.
  4. Flo
    In developing African nations such as Kenya, on average, girls miss a week of school per month due to menstruating. This is because of the stigma associated with periods and limited sanitation resources. That being said, Flo is a reusable menstrual hygiene kit equipped. Within this kit, are reusable pads, a discreet carrying pouch, and a container used while washing clothes to avoid soiling other garments. This offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method for women lacking disposable alternatives. Flo opens the door for greater educational and occupational opportunities. It also lowers the rate of reproductive diseases resulting from poor menstrual hygiene.
  5. LifeStraw
    With more than 10 percent of the global population lacking access to sources of clean drinking water, diseases resulting from consuming contaminated water are a major contributor to high child mortality rates. Approximately, illnesses from drinking contaminated water kill a child every 90 seconds. The high temperatures and unpredictable climate shifts in the sub-Saharan region make potable water extremely valuable, but can also cause availability to fluctuate. Innovations in sub-Saharan African, such as LifeStraw is a simple, portable device that uses a mesh fiber to filter out bacteria and parasites commonly found in contaminated water. The LifeStraw corporation works with major humanitarian organizations such as World Health Organization and the United Nations to provide both individual LifeStraw filtration devices and larger filtration systems to developing communities in need.
  6. Speaking Books
    There is a lack of information about mental illness available to impoverished communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, there is a higher rate of suicide among younger populations. Just a decade ago, more than 15 percent of South Africans afflicted with mental illness had little to no access to any kind of treatment. Zane Wilson, the founder of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, created a range of free audio pamphlets on mental health. Innovations in sub-Saharan Africa like Speaking Books have a goal to combat the lack of access to treatment, which in many rural areas, also reflects high rates of illiteracy. The Speaking Books series now offers 48 different booklets explaining and destigmatizing mental health disorders. Furthermore, these pamphlets are available in 24 languages and distribution spans among 20 African countries.
  7. Tutu Tester Van
    Although HIV is a global epidemic, South Africa has especially high rates of infection. As a result, the country’s rate of tuberculosis has dramatically spiked over the last two decades. However, because of the stigma surrounding HIV, very few communities have access to effective counseling, testing and treatment methods. The Tutu Tester van, introduced by the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, is a fully-staffed clinic on wheels. They visit rural and impoverished communities to provide health screenings using modern equipment – including tests for HIV and TB. As a result, this reduces the stigma attached to these diseases, as patients retain anonymity once they enter the van. Globally, increasing availability to testing is a primary goal of the United Nation’s plan to eliminate the epidemic of HIV by 2030.

Access to these health care innovations in sub-Saharan Africa is having numerous impactful effects: reducing mortality rates, advancing mental health awareness, contributing to greater longevity and improving quality of life for people in impoverished communities across the region. With improved healthcare and sanitation access,  communities have greater chances of reducing poverty and increasing economic and cultural growth.

– Emmitt Kussrow

Photo: Flickr