Mental Health: Grief, loss – we are all traumatised, says psychiatrist on the COVID-19 frontlines

By Biénne Huisman, October 13, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Working with Groote Schuur Hospital’s frontline COVID team, Psychiatry Professor Jackie Hoare help manage the mental health of patients admitted with severe COVID pneumonia and also the mental health needs of fellow healthcare workers. Bienne Huisman caught up with her to talk about providing counselling at the bedside of COVID patients and how we deal with the complexities of grief in a time of COVID-19.

Mental Health: Grief, loss – we are all traumatised, says psychiatrist on the COVID-19 frontlines

COVID-19: What tests are available in SA and which ones to use?

By Elsabé Brits, October 12, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

The different types of COVID-19 tests are far from equal. Picking a test is generally a matter of speed versus accuracy and, most importantly, why you need a test and when. What are the limitations of these tests? Is there any quality control? What are the chances of false positives and false negatives? Elsabé Brits surveys the landscape of tests available in South Africa and asks which type is most appropriate in what situation.

Tags: antibodies antigen tests COVID-19 COVID-19 testing COVID-19 vaccine featured health and safety Lancet Laboratories NHLS pathology PCR tests rapid antigen tests RNA rtPCR SAHPRA SARS-CoV-2 sensitivity and specificity South African Health Products Authority testing centre testing facilities vaccination

COVID-19: What tests are available in SA and which ones to use?

In-depth: SA’s mental health policy has lapsed, what happens next?

By Tiyese Jeranji, October 11, 2021

Posted in: Spotlight

Once widely hailed, South Africa’s Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2013 – 2020 lapsed last year, with mixed reviews on its implementation from mental healthcare stakeholders. The National Department of Health now says the revised and updated Policy Framework and Plan will be in place in the next financial year. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to experts and activists about what the lapsed policy framework achieved and what to improve.

Tags: access to mental health services COVID-19 Department of Health Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town featured health economics Life Esidimeni mental health mental health budgets national health strategy National Mental Health Policy Framework primary healthcare psychiatric nursing psychiatry Public Mental Health rural health Rural Health Advocacy Project South African Federation for Mental Health South African Human Rights Commission World Health Organization

In-depth: SA’s mental health policy has lapsed, what happens next?

Opinion: Climate emergency risks becoming a mental health emergency

By Mbalenhle Baduza, October 8, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

Studies have shown that the rate of mental health problems, such as suicidality, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, increase after natural disasters. Mbalenhle Baduza unpacks the findings of a recent report by the Centre for Environmental Rights on the psychological and mental health consequences of climate change in South Africa.

Tags: CancelCoal campaign Clean Air climate change climate justice climate trauma COVID-19 Dr Joe Phaahla environmental health featured GroundWork mental health mental health budgets mental health conditions mental health institutions mental health medication mental health practitioners mental health users minister of health National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan National Mental Health Policy Framework psychiatrists Public Health public health spending public mental healthcare system rural health

Opinion: Climate emergency risks becoming a mental health emergency

Opinion: The over-criminalisation of HIV transmission does more harm than good

By Sibusisiwe Ndlela, October 8, 2021

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Although it is necessary for the criminal justice system to prohibit and punish conduct that is harmful to the public interest, criminalising exposure to or transmission of HIV goes against important public health principles, writes Sibusisiwe Ndlela.

Tags: criminalisation of HIV Department of Health featured Guidance for Prosecutors on HIV-related cases HIV HIV exposure HIV Prevention HIV status HIV transmission HIV treatment HIV-specific laws Public Health viral loads

Opinion: The over-criminalisation of HIV transmission does more harm than good

Ageing nurses: A crisis on the horizon

By Elna Schütz, October 7, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Nurses make up a large part of the healthcare workforce in South Africa, but almost half of them are set to retire in the next 15 years. This suggests existing shortages of nurses will become even greater unless we take concrete steps to boost nurse training and retention. Elna Schütz reports.

Tags: 2030 Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy Denosa Department of Health featured healthcare workers nurse shortage nurses nursing education nursing education institutions nursing unions Public Health public health facilities RHAP rural health SANC South African Nursing Council Sustainable Development Goals YNITU

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LIFE ESIDIMENI INQUEST: A Recap on its progress and what to expect

By Julia Chaskalson, October 6, 2021

Posted in: Latest, Mental Health

The ongoing judicial inquest into the deaths of mental healthcare users during the Life Esidimeni tragedy in 2016, has again been postponed this week. It is the fifth time the proceedings have been postponed since the inquest started in July this year, signalling that there is still a long road ahead for determining any criminal accountability for these deaths. Julia Chaskalson takes stock of the progress so far and what to expect in the months ahead.

Tags: access to mental health services Department of Health featured Gauteng Department of Health Justice Dikgang Moseneke Life Esidimeni Life Esidimeni Inquest mental health mental health budgets mental health medication mental health treatment mental healthcare services mental healthcare users Public Health

LIFE ESIDIMENI INQUEST: A Recap on its progress and what to expect

COVID-19: Unpacking North West’s low vaccination numbers

By Nthusang Lefafa, October 6, 2021

Posted in: Spotlight

The North West has passed the one million mark for COVID-19 jabs administered. Nthusang Lefafa unpacks the vaccination numbers, reasons for the province having some of the lowest vaccination numbers in the country, and how it is working to catch up.

Tags: adverse events Clinics Community Health Care Workers COVID-19 EVDS featured Johnson & Johnson national vaccine rollout strategy North West North West Department of Health Pfizer rural health vaccination sites vaccinations vaccine vaccine demand vaccine hesitancy

COVID-19: Unpacking North West’s low vaccination numbers

In-depth: What is behind the massive cataract surgery backlogs in Gauteng?

By Ufrieda Ho, October 5, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

As World Sight Day approaches on 14 October, Gauteng faces the damning reality that thousands of cataract patients are waiting up to two years to receive the simple life-changing surgery. Ufrieda Ho reports.

Tags: cataract surgery backlog cataracts Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital COVID-19 Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi eyecare featured Gauteng Health Department Gauteng Health MEC healthcare users healthcare workers Leratong Hospital Ophthalmology Public Health Sebokeng Hospital waiting lists

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In-depth: What is behind the massive cataract surgery backlogs in Gauteng?

Mental Health: How are we doing? What do we need to do?

By Professor Lesley Robertson, October 4, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

In its observations on South Africa, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) expressed grave concern regarding the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities. Professor Lesley Robertson looks at our medical model of disability and mental health legislation and unpacks the change needed at the societal and health system levels.

Tags: access to mental health services Department of Health disability featured health systems reform healthcare providers mental health mental health awareness month mental health conditions Mental health literacy person-centred mental healthcare Professor Lesley Robertson psychiatric hospitals public health expenditure public health sector World Health Organization

Mental Health: How are we doing? What do we need to do?

EDITORIAL: Spotlight on mental health

By Alicestine October, October 4, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

In the spirit of mental health awareness month this October, Spotlight will publish a mental health special series in the coming weeks. This is what you can expect.

Tags: access to mental health services bipolar disorder Cecilia Makiwane Hospital depression EASTERN CAPE HEALTH featured Life Esidimeni Life Esidimeni Inquest mental health awareness month mental health budgets mental health conditions mental health services National Health Insurance National Mental Health Policy Framework NHI OHSC public protector South African Federation for Mental Health Tower Hospital treatment guidelines

COVID-19: How to respond to vaccine hesitancy

By Chris Bateman, September 30, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

Initially hamstrung by low and uncertain supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, government is arguably now in a better position to campaign actively to accelerate vaccine demand, albeit in the midst of an often-harmful viral “infodemic”. Chris Bateman asks what can be done to boost demand for the jab.

Tags: COVID vaccine COVID-19 Department of Health Electronic Vaccine Data System EVDS featured Groote Schuur Hospital national vaccine rollout strategy Pfizer Professor Glenda Gray SAMRC Sisonke Trial South African Medical Research Council vaccine hesitancy vaccine supply