The realisation of Human Rights is a complex topic which does not lend itself to axiomatic answers. No way is this truer when the rights of the marginalised section of the population are in question. The tragic loss of life fallen in the discharge of mental healthcare patients from the Life Healthcare Esidimeni facilities evoked public outcries and led to widespread calls for further investigations. Not only in this instance but also in relation to the broader mental healthcare system in this country; all thanks to the DA.
The World Health Organisation, Who, of which South Africa is a member emphasised that mental health is a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential; can cope with normal stresses of life; work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. As such, mental health is not merely the absence of illness or a disease. South Africa should veer more to a right based approach to emphasise equality of people with disabilities. This approach considers the disability to be a product of an environment that first to accommodate the specific needs of a person with the disability, as already done in the Western Cape.
Prevalence psychosis relating to psychosocial and intellectual disabilities is underestimated. Studies have shown attempted suicide rates of 7,8% and rates of suicidal ideation of 19% amongst high school students, 22% post- traumatic stress amongst school children as well as post trauma depression as high as 34,7% and high depression rates of 37%. These findings indicate that South African school children face considerable mental health challenges.
Despite high prevalence of mental healthcare conditions many South Africans would benefit from accessing services to not receiving treatment. Only 25% of South Africans leaving with the mental health condition access services. The most significant obstacle to mental health piracy is stigma. Stigmatisation of mental health is an excuse for an action and we are still waiting on the department for them to come up with the proposal.
Public mental healthcare systems in general lack adequate coverage of mental healthcare professions. Per 100 000 people South Africa is 0,2% at psychiatrist, 0,23% psychologist, 0,4 social workers, 0,13 occupational therapists and 10 mental healthcare nurses. As a comparison the average for the middle income country would be five psychiatrists per 100 000 people. In South Africa HIV infection, substance abuse and exposure to violence increase vulnerability to mental health challenges. Against this backdrop, it was not the stark realities of unmet needs with regards to child and adolescent mental healthcare in South Africa.
We call for the urgent scaling up of services to fulfil the constitutional rights of children and adolescents through appropriate healthcare services in the committee. LSAs in overcrowded schools will not be over be able to effectively implement guidelines presented and ultimately the onus would be on the class teachers to identify where assistance is needed. Even this will eventually lead to inadequate assessment of learners which will have long term mental effects and stigmatisation if done incorrectly. De-institutionalisation must be undertaken properly. The primary and specialist multidisciplinary teams that are community based, mental healthcare services must be focused on, must be resourced and must be developed before the process is started. It will require more financial and human resource investment. Therefore, sufficient budget should be allocated. Countless Esidemenis are happening right now to people who are still alive but the extent of neglectful and abusive care will again only come to light once they also die in starvation, dehydration, cold and infection.
The state must have the political will to avoid this tragedy from occurring and learn from your mistakes, ANC on Life Esidimeni because you are failing our children out there when it comes to mental healthcare access. We support this report. [Applause.]