Mental Health Services in South Africa: Scaling up and future directions

Sorsdahl, Katherine; Stein, Dan J.; Lund, Crick

doi:10.4314/ajpsy.v15i3.21

Cited by 18 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…Mental disorders are often under-diagnosed (Jonsson et al, 2013;Sorsdahl et al, 2012). Since patients are unlikely to disclose their mental state, Jonsson and colleagues recommend that patients on ART be screened using the three questions in the recently published clinical guideline "Management of mental health disorders in HIV-positive patients receiving ART" (Jonsson et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…An additional 361 psychiatrists, 135 nurses and 2937 psychological care providers, which include psychologists and social workers, are needed to meet the mental health demands of South Africans (Day, Gray, & Budgell, 2011). Patient factors associated with low detection and treatment of mental disorders are poor mental health literacy and stigma associated with mental disorders (Sorsdahl, Stein, & Lund, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Public sector antiretroviral treatment programme in South Africa: health care workers' attention to mental health problems

et al. 2014

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Although there is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst people receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), many patients are not screened, diagnosed or referred for mental health problems. This study aims to determine whether public sector health care workers in South Africa observe, screen, diagnose and refer ART patients that show symptoms of common mental disorders. It also aims to ascertain the extent of mental health training received by public sector health care workers working in ART. The study was cross-sectional in design. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 40 nurses and structured interviews were conducted with 23 lay workers across the five districts in the Free State between July 2009 and October 2009. STATA version 12 was used to perform statistical data analysis. The health care workers reported observing a high frequency of symptoms of common mental disorders among public sector ART patients. While 70% of nurses screened and diagnosed, only 40% of lay workers screened and diagnosed patients on ART for a mental disorder. Health care workers who had received training in mental health were more likely to screen or diagnose a mental disorder, but only 14% of the workers had received such training. We recommend that health care workers should receive task-specific training to screen and/or diagnose patients on ART for common mental disorders using the guidelines of the South African HIV Clinicians Society. A positive diagnosis should be referred to a health care practitioner for appropriate evidence-based treatment in the form of medication or psychotherapy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public sector antiretroviral treatment programme in South Africa: health care workers' attention to mental health problems

et al. 2014

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“…Physically, some of them are very untidy and indecent. In the view of Sorsdahl et al (2012), "[c]ompared to an average person, those with a mental disorder are viewed as being more unpredictable, tense and dangerous, worthless, delicate, slow, weak, dirty, and foolish" (p.169). They therefore become people who are dreaded and cannot be apprehended by just one person.…”

Section: Idioms and Proverbsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Insanity is from home”

Amfo

Houphouet

Dordoye³

et al. 2018

IJoLC

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This paper examines selected expressions relating to the articulation of mental health challenges in three Akan speaking communities in Ghana, in the context of considering that language is reflective of human thought, and that human cultural practices and behavior emanate from people’s underlying appreciation of particular issues. Expressions of mental health challenges were extracted from a total of 37 one-on-one interviews and 12 focus group discussions. We note that the expressions used fall into 3 categories: idioms and proverbs, non-figurative language and code mixed utterances. Overall, indirection permeates all the categories. Furthermore, our observation is that the expressions provide an indication of the manifestations and perceived causes of the illnesses, which are familial, spiritual or biomedical. There is a strong tendency towards an expectation of communal support for the mentally ill. An appreciation of the languages and cultures of local communities provides the basis for appropriate diagnosis, effective management of mental illness and efficient public health education.

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“…Various South African studies on mental disorders have demonstrated the high prevalence and morbidity of mental health conditions (Sorsdahl et al, 2012) in addition to the lack of professionals available to deal with this situation (Petersen, 2004). Sorsdahl et al (2012) noted that there is staggering evidence for the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for mental disorders.…”

Section: Theme 2: Perception Of the Role Of Registered Counsellors Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sorsdahl et al (2012) noted that there is staggering evidence for the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for mental disorders. Kotze and Carolissen's (2005) research suggested that psychologists and psychiatrists were mainly serving the private sector and that it was therefore necessary to develop counsellors within the HPCSA to provide valuable mental health-care services at a primary level.…”

Section: Theme 2: Perception Of the Role Of Registered Counsellors Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Registered counsellors’ perceptions of their role in the South African context of providing mental health-care services

Rouillard

Wilson

Weideman

2015

South African Journal of Psychology

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Mental health-care statistics in South Africa indicate that large numbers of individuals do not have access to mental health-care practitioners and that mental health difficulties appear to be exacerbated by significant social problems. The need to combat this ever-increasing void was acknowledged by the South African government and the category of registered counsellor was created to afford a form of mental health care to disadvantaged communities. To date, it appears that registered counsellors have been somewhat unsuccessful in their attempts to fulfil their intended role. Hence, in 2011, a newly formulated scope of practice was introduced which engaged registered counsellors in the areas that would most efficiently address the mental health-care gap. The purpose of this research study was to explore the perceptions of registered counsellors regarding their role of providing mental health-care services in the South African context. A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach with a sample of 12 individuals, who are registered as registered counsellors with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, was used. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews guided by an interview schedule. Thematic analysis was used to identify the themes. The study found that the registered counsellors perceived their role as important in the context of mental health-care development in South Africa, but despite this, they also experienced negative perceptions regarding the changing scope of their role in South Africa. This manifested in uncertainty among the registered counsellors. Negative perceptions were also reported in terms of a lack of acknowledgement from other mental healthcare practitioners and ignorance from the public regarding the work of registered counsellors.

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Mental Health Services in South Africa: Scaling up and future directions

Cited by 18 publications

References 44 publications

Public sector antiretroviral treatment programme in South Africa: health care workers' attention to mental health problems

Public sector antiretroviral treatment programme in South Africa: health care workers' attention to mental health problems

“Insanity is from home”

Registered counsellors’ perceptions of their role in the South African context of providing mental health-care services

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