Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, will on Tuesday lead the World Mental Health Day commemorative event in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.
The day will help improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Phaahla will be joined by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane, World Health Organisation’s Country Director Dr Owen Kaluwa, representatives from human rights bodies and local leaders.
The 2023 campaign will be commemorated under the theme “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right” theme, which serves as a clarion call for countries to improve access to quality mental health services and ensure that the human rights and well-being of people with mental disorders are respected and upheld.
The Department of Health has called on communities and organisations to create an enabling environment for people to openly discuss mental health challenges and share experiences to help break down barriers.
According to the department, this will also encourage health-seeking behaviour for early diagnosis and effective management.
“Stigma and discrimination can make mental health problems worse and delay a person from seeking help they need to recover,” it said.
Source: South African Government News Agency