Poor Knowledge About Mental Health Adds To Stigma.
This was the headline in our local newspaper Vukani on World Mental Health Day 2020. The newspaper interviewed our Service Manager, Lulama Mfuniselwa, (see picture and full article above), who opened with the statement that “Being aware of one’s mental health makes you capable of dealing with life issues… If you are unable to deal with life issues….you could easily find yourself being hooked on drugs and alcohol”.
Lulama said that there is “still a stigma associated with mental health matters and a lack of knowledge plays a big part”.
Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic Lulama stated that losing someone close to you; loss of income – …can affect your mental health. He closed with some comments about child mental health: if children with mental health problems are left untreated their problems are likely to be repeated in their own children.