World Mental Health Day focuses spotlight on issues to be addressed

DESPITE the existence of legislation like the National Mental Health Policy Framework, there are still critical issues that need to be addressed and rectified.

Mental health has often been dubbed the “Cinderella of the health system”.

Speaking about World Mental Health Day, observed internationally tomorrow, the South African Federation of Mental Health said yesterday it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure legislation was implemented so that all people were treated with dignity and respect.

It has selected “Dignity in Mental Health” as the theme for the day.

“Dignity is seen as a basic human right for all citizens, which is protected in our constitution. South Africa is also a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which enshrines the universal rights of all persons with disabilities,” said Marthé Viljoen, the organisation’s programme manager for information and awareness.

Earlier this month, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi inaugurated for the first time a ministerial advisory committee on mental health. The committee was appointed at the discretion of the minister in terms of section 71 of the Mental Health Care Act No 17 of 2002.

In 2012, at the request of the National Health Council, the National Mental Health Summit was held. The summit reviewed the status of mental health in all nine provinces and adopted a roadmap to further transform mental care.

The roadmap and resolutions of the summit were translated into the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 20132020 adopted in July 2013, and is currently being implemented.

The advisory committee will mainly facilitate the achievement of the resolutions of the summit and the objectives of the 20132030 plan, as well as the Mental Health Care Act.

In addition, the committee will advise the minister on other important issues in mental health.

“We hope it will make a difference, but only time will tell.

“We’re hopeful this committee will have the hoped for effect,” Viljoen stated.

The organisation said much still needed to be done to ensure the dignity of mental health care users.

This included easy and reliable access to the correct psychotropic medication; access to community-based psychosocial rehabilitation centres; the allocation of suf- ficient beds and resources to psychiatric and other healthcare facilities; and ensuring all medical staff have basic training.