Mental health and the law: a South African perspective

Szabo, Christopher Paul; Kaliski, Sean

doi:10.1192/s2056474000001951

Cited by 8 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…It should be noted that some countries, such as South Africa, are moving toward modernization. In many others, hospitals and health care are present almost exclusively in large cities, leaving rural areas almost completely lacking in services (78). The belief present in many rural villages is that mental illness is the work of a djinn (a spirit) that possesses the person and upsets the mind.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criteria, Procedures, and Future Prospects of Involuntary Treatment in Psychiatry Around the World: A Narrative Review

et al. 2019

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criteria, Procedures, and Future Prospects of Involuntary Treatment in Psychiatry Around the World: A Narrative Review

et al. 2019

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“…The Mental Health Care Act 2002 (Act no. 17 of 2002), ushered in a new era for South African psychiatry by replacing the Mental Health Act of 1973 [39]. A requirement of the Act is that mental health care user be treated in the least restrictive manner possible and ultimately with the least discomfort and inconvenience [40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the knowledge of emergency medical care practitioners in the free state, South Africa, on aspects of pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies

Mothibi¹,

Jama²,

Adefuye³

2019

Pan Afr Med J

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IntroductionStudies have reported that emergency medical care practitioners (EMCPs) encounter challenges when attending to psychiatric emergencies. The EMC provider's ability to understand, assess and manage psychiatric emergencies has been reported to be poor due to limited knowledge and insufficient training. In South Africa (SA), little is known about the knowledge of EMCPs on pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of EMCPs working in the Free State province on aspects of pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies.MethodsThis descriptive study used a questionnaire survey to obtain data on the knowledge of EMCPs on aspects of pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies.ResultsOnly 159 of the initial 192 questionnaires distributed were returned, giving a response rate of 82.8%. The majority (87.4%) of the participants reported inadequate knowledge of pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies. More than a third of the participants reported that they are not knowledgeable on how to assess a psychiatric patient (P < 0.01), 64.2% and 73.6% (P < 0.001 in both cases) could not perform mental status examination and lack the knowledge of crisis intervention skills for managing a psychiatric emergencies. The majority (76.7%; P < 0.001) of the participants are not conversant with the Mental Health Care Act 2002 (Act no. 17 of 2002). Finally, participants (94.3% and 86.8%, respectively; P < 0.001) agree that teaching and prior exposure to a psychiatric facility, as in work integrated learning, will empower EMC graduates with skills required to effectively manage psychiatric emergencies.ConclusionEMC practitioners are often the first healthcare professionals arriving at any scene of medical emergencies including psychiatric emergencies. To avoid malpractices, which could be detrimental to patient's health, it is of utmost importance that EMCPs are well trained and equipped to manage any form of medical emergency including those involving psychiatric patients.

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“…10 This would require that primary and secondary health facilities have appropriately trained staff, facilities and access to medication, a reality that is still a work in progress. 11 The Mental Health Care Act also sets out strict procedures that need to be followed by health care workers in the admission of mentally ill patients, especially in cases of assisted and involuntary care. Szabo and Kaliski noted that the administrative burden placed on health care workers has increased and they need to complete a 'host' of documents throughout the admission process to ensure that all decisions that are made are well thought through and defensible in court.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Szabo and Kaliski noted that the administrative burden placed on health care workers has increased and they need to complete a 'host' of documents throughout the admission process to ensure that all decisions that are made are well thought through and defensible in court. 11 To support countries in the shift towards decentralised care, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified 10 key principals for mental health integration, one of which was the adequate training of primary care workers in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. 12 Research into the outcomes and effectiveness of short mental health training interventions for non-specialist health care workers have found significant improvements in knowledge, confidence, attitude towards mental health, clinical practice and skills, and patient outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can a brief training intervention help improve mental health service delivery in South Africa?

Slaven

Erasmus

Uys

et al. 2021

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

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Background: South Africa faces a number of significant challenges apropos mental health service delivery, including a large treatment gap, a high rate of readmission, over-burdened specialist tertiary facilities, and slow integration of mental health into general health services. The South African National Mental Health Education Programme implemented between February 2019 and December 2019, aimed to upskill health workers to diagnose and manage mental disorders at primary and secondary levels of care.Aim: This study aimed to assess the evolution of training participants’ self-reported competency in mental health care and the number of referrals made to higher levels of care as well as to reflect on the possible broader effects of the training.Setting: The programme and study were conducted in South Africa with Medical Officers and Professional Nurses working at public sector primary and secondary level health care facilities.Methods: A descriptive observational study collected data from training participants through a pre- and post-course, and 3-month follow-up survey.Results: The average confidence ratings for performing mental health care activities and managing mental health conditions increased from pre- to post-course, and was either maintained or increased further at 3-month follow-up. A decrease in the self-reported percentage of patients being referred to a higher level of care was observed 3-months after the training.Conclusion: The evaluation suggests that a brief training intervention such this can go a long way in increasing the confidence of primary and secondary level health care workers in managing common mental health conditions and adhering to the provisions of legislation.

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Mental health and the law: a South African perspective

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

Criteria, Procedures, and Future Prospects of Involuntary Treatment in Psychiatry Around the World: A Narrative Review

Criteria, Procedures, and Future Prospects of Involuntary Treatment in Psychiatry Around the World: A Narrative Review

Assessing the knowledge of emergency medical care practitioners in the free state, South Africa, on aspects of pre-hospital management of psychiatric emergencies

Can a brief training intervention help improve mental health service delivery in South Africa?

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