SA's New Mental Health Plan and the Problem of Stigma SpotlightNSP: SouthAfrica
Before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder Type 1, Sifiso Mkhasibe says he was often labelled as the"black sheep" of the family and he did not know where to go for help. He was often dismissed as crazy and told that this is a white man's illness.
The South African Federation of Mental Health defines stigma as"an attribute, quality, or condition that severely restricts or diminishes a person's sense of self, damaging their self-worth, social connections, and sense of belonging". Mkhasibe says he was in Sterkfontein Hospital until 2011. By then, he was estranged from his family and moved around a lot staying with cousins, aunts, and his late grandmother.
"People seeking care are often called names such as bewitched or crazy. This prevents people from seeking out care," says Craig."This results in people seeking care when their condition is acute and recovery will take much longer. Stigma can often lead to people completely stopping to take treatment.
According to South Africa's new National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023 - 2030 the country has less than one psychologist for every 100 000 people. This is among the reasons why there are limited mental health services in the public health sector, especially in rural areas.
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