STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Mental health has become one of the most pressing public health challenges in South Africa and around the world. Within our national context, entrenched socio-economic disparities, cultural dynamics, and systemic service delivery constraints continue to drive inequities in mental health — particularly among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Although South Africa has enacted progressive mental health legislation and developed strategic frameworks, the implementation of these policies remains inconsistent. The majority of health facilities lack adequate resources, and there is a critical shortage of trained mental health professionals, especially in rural and under-resourced areas. As a result, policy aspirations have yet to materialise into a comprehensive, community-based mental health system that is accessible to all.
This 27th edition of the
South African Health Review, which is devoted entirely to the advancement of mental health services in South Africa, seeks to raise awareness, inspire action, and galvanise investment in a sector that urgently requires transformation.
It underscores a growing recognition that mental health recovery must be rooted in communities, not institutions, and centred on the lived experiences of those receiving care. It calls for a bold re-imagining of mental health care, one that places the dignity, rights, and lived experiences of individuals at its core.
To access this edition of the Review, click on the links below.