Lack of educative information about mental health illnesses continues to disadvantage rural communities

Rural communities around Lusikisiki continue to be held at a disadvantage regarding mental health illnesses.

Residents complain that there is a lack of informative education surrounding mental health illnesses in order to spot early signs.

Walking through the one-street rural town, one is more likely to come across an individual who is mentally challenged, partially dressed in rages and homeless. Discrimination and stigma continue to plight due to people possessing little to no knowledge about mental health.

A woman who urged to remain anonymous said she had started experiencing suicidal episodes and approached the clinic in order to be assisted.

I was told that this is not in the movies that you find on tv. This comment was from a health care worker after explaining what I was experiencing. – said the woman

Apinda Ntsepho said that in rural areas people who disclose their mental health state are more likely to be judged than helped.

“They just simply think when a person is suffering from depression, anxiety or any other mental illness, they are labelled as attention seekers. It is an unfortunate stereotype  as people are not even keen to educating themselves about the current crisis.” said Ntsepo She believes that it is time people took it upon themselves to shred the negative misguided stereotypes around mental health and they should create room to educate themselves.

Muhle Magwentshu who is a psychology student said it is deverstating that annually numbers of people fall victim of managable mental health illnesses.

I am studying this course in order to go back to less priviledged communities in Lusikisiki and bring them into light about mental illnesses. – said Magwentshu

According to a statement released last week on World Mental Day 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care; importantly, we can all play our part in increasing awareness about which preventive mental health interventions in our society.