Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions
Neuropsychiatric disorders were ranked third as contributors to disability-adjusted life-years in South Africa (SA). Despite this high morbidity, mental health is often overlooked on the public health agenda. This article reviews evidence on the burden of mental illness in the Western Cape Province...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
South African Medical Association
2018-03-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/download/12223/8407 |
| _version_ | 1797331878153289728 |
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| author | N Jacob D Coetzee |
| author_facet | N Jacob D Coetzee |
| author_sort | N Jacob |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neuropsychiatric disorders were ranked third as contributors to disability-adjusted life-years in South Africa (SA). Despite this high morbidity, mental health is often overlooked on the public health agenda. This article reviews evidence on the burden of mental illness in the Western Cape Province of SA, as well as current provincial interventions to decrease the burden of mental illness. Available evidence supports the need for improved integration of mental health services in primary healthcare and strengthening of community services. Challenges include a lack of capacity due to staff shortages and inadequate availability and allocation of resources. Evidence from large epidemiological studies to quantify the burden of disease as well as cost-effectiveness studies of interventions are required to successfully plan and implement interventions. Similar reviews may provide a national overview of mental health issues as well as allow improvement through better understanding of research and best practices in various provinces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:41:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15fa0ba45ca84412aaeb40496ac1abd2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:41:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-15fa0ba45ca84412aaeb40496ac1abd22024-02-02T17:13:55ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352018-03-01108317618010.7196/SAMJ.2018.v108i3.12904Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventionsN JacobD CoetzeeNeuropsychiatric disorders were ranked third as contributors to disability-adjusted life-years in South Africa (SA). Despite this high morbidity, mental health is often overlooked on the public health agenda. This article reviews evidence on the burden of mental illness in the Western Cape Province of SA, as well as current provincial interventions to decrease the burden of mental illness. Available evidence supports the need for improved integration of mental health services in primary healthcare and strengthening of community services. Challenges include a lack of capacity due to staff shortages and inadequate availability and allocation of resources. Evidence from large epidemiological studies to quantify the burden of disease as well as cost-effectiveness studies of interventions are required to successfully plan and implement interventions. Similar reviews may provide a national overview of mental health issues as well as allow improvement through better understanding of research and best practices in various provinces.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/download/12223/8407 |
| spellingShingle | N Jacob D Coetzee Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions South African Medical Journal |
| title | Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| title_full | Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| title_fullStr | Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| title_short | Mental illness in the Western Cape Province South Africa: A review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| title_sort | mental illness in the western cape province south africa a review of the burden of disease and healthcare interventions |
| url | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/download/12223/8407 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT njacob mentalillnessinthewesterncapeprovincesouthafricaareviewoftheburdenofdiseaseandhealthcareinterventions AT dcoetzee mentalillnessinthewesterncapeprovincesouthafricaareviewoftheburdenofdiseaseandhealthcareinterventions |