This week South Africa joined hands in the commemoration of World Mental Health Awareness Day on Tuesday.
In South Africa, only 1 in 10 people with a mental illness has access to treatment, hence the 2023 theme is-‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.
World Mental Health gives the world an opportunity for people and communities to unite, improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s Mental Health.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) states that one in four South African university students experiences depression. Furthermore, depending on whether one takes the 2012 South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) or 2015 Stats SA figures, suicide features in the top five or top nine causes of death among young adults, with many more make an attempt to self-harm.
SADAG said mental health is a human right and that there is no health without mental health as mental health care is a human right that advocates for access while equity is a social justice issue.
Mental Health knows no boundaries or borders and it is a basic aspect of the overall health .
Its conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.
Mental illness can impact physical health, well-being, how people connect with others and their livelihoods.
On Tuesday, Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande said young adults are considered to be the most at-risk group for depression.
This comes as nearly half of all deaths in the 15-24-year age group are due to interpersonal violence, suicides and accidents.
“Within the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector, a 2015 study by Stellenbosch University found 12% of students had symptoms of moderate to severe depression and 15% had symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety,” he said.
Nzimande said in response to mental health within the PSET sector in the past two years, higher health, the department of higher education and training health and wellness agency managed 53 619 reported mental health cases by students.
“Through higher health mental health prevention, we provided mental health support to 321 004 students from January 2021 to June 2023 aimed towards fighting the stigma and taboos around mental health,” concluded Nzimande.