The Professional Board for Psychology is commemorating World Mental Health Awareness Month specifically on 10 October, which is Mental Health Day. The World Health Organization’s, theme for this year is “Mental healthcare for all: let’s make it a reality”.
The Board’s campaign focuses on creating awareness around the various types of mental health illnesses and the symptoms associated with mental health. Mental health problems are the result of a complex interplay between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, especially health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected by the negative impact of COVID-19, and services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders have been significantly disrupted.
Fear, anxiety, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats such as COVID-19 especially at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. It is normal and understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19.
Mental health in South Africa remains a priority and is still inaccessible to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable, hence, the Board deems it fit to continue creating awareness and inform the public of the various facilities that are available to the public, and most importantly commit to this year’s theme by making mental health a reality amongst our communities.
The Board will continue to strive for improved access to mental health services, the promotion of mental well-being amongst the community by continuously creating awareness and education around the stigma associated with mental health.
Last Updated on 8 October 2021 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs