Treat those with mental illness with dignity

All over the world, people will be promoting World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The aim this year (2015) is to raise awareness of what can be done to ensure that people who are mentally ill can continue to live with dignity.

One in four people will experience some kind of mental health crisis in the course of a year. By failing to treat someone who is mentally ill with dignity, he or she can become ashamed, develop low confidence, low self-esteem, become withdrawn and isolate him or herself socially. Being stigmatised and discriminated against may also make it very difficult for a mentally ill person to safeguard his or her wellbeing and seek help. In South Africa the average suicide is 17.2 per 100 000 (8% of all deaths). This relates only to deaths reported by academic hospitals. The real figure is higher.

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and behaviour that leads to an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands. There are over 200 classified forms of mental illness, all of which can be triggered by a particular situation or series of events, an illness, genetics, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these factors.

Points to ponder

• • Thousands of mentally ill people are deprived of their human rights because of inaccessible mental health care in South Africa. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but may also be subject to emotional and physical abuse by their families and community.

• • The Mental Health Care Act, no. 17 of 2002, specifies that in line with human rights principles, mental health services should be accessible to all people and that care should be delivered in the least restrictive setting. This means moving away from institutionalising those with mental illnesses towards the development of community-based services.

• • Poor mental health can lead to poor physical health through increased risk behaviour and a compromised immune system. There is thus a need for increased commitment to the integration of mental health services into the general health system so that people receiving general health services such as obstetric care and treatment for Aids, are able to receive mental health care at the same time.

• • Adults with mental health problems are one of the most socially excluded groups in society.

• • Self-respect and self-esteem is central to maintaining mental health and wellbeing.

• • Respecting an individual’s identity and protecting their dignity will help to promote recovery, whereas acts that violate dignity and fail to respect an individual and his or her story can lead to further damage.

Where to find help

If you’re needing help to cope mentally or emotionally or you need a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist or support group, call The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) on (011)2344837 or 0800 20 50 26 to speak to a trained counsellor who can assist you further.

Sources
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
www.sadag.org
www.safmh.org.za
www.who.int/mental_health