‘Take stigma out of mental illness’
STOP SEEING IT AS WITCHCRAFT ‘Why do we treat those with TB and other diseases and judge those with mental problems?’
Eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health problems in communities, where some believe psychological illness is a manifestation of witchcraft, should be on the national agenda to ensure these illnesses are taken seriously and resourced accordingly.
This was the emphasis at the Mental Health Open Day and Dialogue yesterday as stakeholders met at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria.
Numerous organisations and community members showed support for breaking the stigma and for open discussions on the issue.
Hospital CEO Maureen Mabena said communities needed to be open-minded and supportive of those going through mental challenges, instead of labelling these illnesses as witchcraft.
“When a person believes they are bewitched and sees a traditional healer, but realises they actually have a mental illness, we shouldn’t ignore that. We should work together and make sure we deal with the bigger problem together. Unless we accept and admit the problem starts with us, we can’t win this,” she said.
According to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, one in three people has a mental illness during their life and an average of 23 people commit suicide daily.
Weskoppies currently has an average of 800 inpatients with an additional 1 000 outpatients per month.
“We need to also realise that coming to a psychiatric hospital is not a life sentence. You are treated and stabilised and, if you are well enough, you are sent to a nongovernment organisation,” Mabena said.
There was a bell-ringing ceremony at the event, an act meant to instil hope in those affected and afflicted by mental conditions.
Mabena paid tribute to the more than 100 psychiatric patients who died last year after being moved from Life Esidimeni facilities to nongovernmental organisations. “We should talk about it so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. We need to hold hands and together find solutions to pave the way forward,” she said.
She also criticised healthcare workers who deny treatment to mentally ill patients in clinics and hospitals.
“How come we treat those with TB, HIV, hypertension and other lifestyle diseases and judge those with a mental problem?
“Before someone comes to Weskoppies, they need to go through the proper channels starting at local clinics, where they should definitely be helped. If that fails, they should go to Tshwane District Hospital or Pretoria West Hospital and they will be referred to us.”