SA needs more workers to care for mental health patients

MENTAL health has come under the spotlight with an announcement from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that there is a global shortage of health workers trained in mental health and a lack of investment in community-based mental health facilities.

The South African Medical Association (Sama) now wants to meet with Eastern Cape health superintendent-general Dr Thobile Mbengashe this week to discuss mental health in the province.

Sama provincial chairman Dr Mzu Nodikida yesterday confirmed the meeting, saying several topics were on the agenda.

“Sama has resolved to request the presence of a provincial director or manager for mental health in the province at our next board meeting as we take mental health very seriously,” Nodikida said.

“We also want to hold a consultative summit on mental health services at the beginning of October.”

Provincial health spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha said there were four psychiatric hospitals in the province and three regional hospitals with psychiatric units.

He said there were more than 150 000 patients in state facilities and only 1 613 staff members.

“There are 1 613 healthcare workers, inclusive of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, speciality psychiatric nurses, general psychiatry nurses, enrolled nurses and pharmacists.

“Also critical to note is that the burden of disease shows a radical increase in substance abuse, which requires the social service of rehabilitation. This is an area of critical need,” Sicwetsha said.

Sicwetsha further said the department needed more staff members.

“The 1 613 we have is not sufficient at all. We do not have nearly enough staff to service the demand that is out there,” he said.

A 2011 WHO report suggested there were 1.58 healthcare workers for every 100 000 people in South Africa, compared to a recommended 7.69 healthcare workers for every

100 000 people.

In a statement released this month, WHO said although some countries had made progress in mental health policy-making and planning, there was a global shortage of health workers trained in mental health and a lack of investment in community-based mental health facilities.

Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s department of mental health and substance abuse, said: “We know what works. Failure to invest in mental health as a matter of urgency will have health, social and economic costs on a scale that we have rarely seen before.”

WHO has revealed that in lowincome countries, the rate of mental health workers can be as low as two per 100 000 population, compared with more than 70 in high-income countries.

This, according to Saxena, is in stark contrast with needs, given that one in every 10 people is estimated to need mental health care at any one time. —