1 / 20

MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA

MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA. “Community Attitudes Towards and Knowledge of Mental Illness in S.A.”. Soc Psychiatry Epidemiol (2003) 38:715-719 According to this study, “5% of the total population show definite psychiatric syndromes and roughly 20% show evidence of psychiatric distress.”

oliana
Télécharger la présentation

MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA

  2. “Community Attitudes Towards andKnowledge of Mental Illness in S.A.” Soc Psychiatry Epidemiol (2003) 38:715-719 According to this study, “5% of the total population show definite psychiatric syndromes and roughly 20% show evidence of psychiatric distress.” However, the following was evidenced in the research of this study that, “stigma and misinformation regarding mental illness exist, influencing preferred treatment modality and help-seeking behavior. More work needs to be done to educate the public about the psychobiological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders and about the value of effective treatment.”

  3. THREE MAIN ISSUES • AIDS • CRIME • TRADITIONAL TRIBAL RITUALS

  4. AIDS http://www.pgaf.org/pressreleases/south_africa_stats.html

  5. RESULTS OF AIDS • Thousands of homeless orphans. • Older children become ringleaders for younger children and involve them in illegal behavior like prostitution. • Builds on more hatred between blacks and whites and used as a tool for revenge. • Mental issues relating to AIDS victims and related family members.

  6. “Using Psychosocial Interventions in a S.A. Township.” • Mental health practice June 2005 vol 9 no.9. • The primary aim of the project was to improve access to metal health services for residents of the township. • 45% of SA still in poverty. • Life expectancy, due to aids and tuberculosis in 2000 was 47.8 years. • Therefore, social problems are critical.

  7. Study continued This specific study was conducted in a township called KwaZakhele (near Port Elizabeth). They have 400,000 residents and most do not have running water or sanitation – they live in basic shack dwellings. PRIMARY GOAL: TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIPS.

  8. Study Continued • Mainly nurses were trained on psychosocial interventions for mental health in the UK. It was culturally adapted for SA. • They increased trainees knowledge about mental health and enhanced the ability to communicate with mental ill people. • The clinics in SA were not well resourced, far distances for patients to have to travel, long queues to wait in and limited treatments. • This resulted in a failed system as patients and were classified as defaulted. • The plan of a defaulter tracing system was implemented. This presented problems due to tracking homes that were either not numbered or too long of no’s, i.e. 66,548. • Through persistence and community help, 74% of the people were found and returned to the clinic within the first three days.

  9. CRIME • 1000 crimes reported – 430 arrests are made. 77 – convicted of which 8 got 2 or more years imprisonment. (http://www.rescuewithoughtborders.org/id29.html) • http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/pubs/public_info/c/86878/1

  10. South African Crime Stats

  11. RESULTS OF HIGH CRIME • In 2000, 62 policeman died…this compared with 2 in NY which was due to a car accident. Police deaths in 2001-2002 were 45 policeman. • Many professional and educated people, i.e. Doctors have left the country. This has resulted in systems and institutions suffering and failing, i.e. hospitals. • FEAR IS DETRIMENTAL TO A HEALTHY MENATL STATE OF BEING!

  12. TRADITIONAL HEALINGS

  13. SA ETHICAL CODES

More Related