In South Africa October has been declared mental health awareness month. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) as many as one in six South Africans suffer from anxiety, depression or substance-use problems and this does not include more serious conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Furthermore SADAG says only twenty-seven percent of South Africans reporting severe mental illnesses receive treatment. This means that nearly three-quarters of these sufferers are not accessing any form of mental health care at all.
To assist us on this Benjamin Moshatama was joined by:
• Dr Moipone Tlapu
Mental health expert
• Cassandra Govender
MSF Mental health supervisor
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• Dr Senathi Fisha
clinical psychologist and founder of Fisha Wellness Hospital
• Bharti Patel who is the National Executive Director at the South African Federation for Mental Health.
