{"id":965442,"date":"2024-07-12T13:24:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T13:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/dm-simulator-v2\/?p=965442"},"modified":"2024-07-12T13:24:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T13:24:12","slug":"durban-advocacy-group-says-mental-health-should-be-prioritised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elections.sabc.co.za\/elections2024\/durban-advocacy-group-says-mental-health-should-be-prioritised\/","title":{"rendered":"Durban advocacy group says mental health should be prioritised"},"content":{"rendered":"

The CEO of the Durban and Coastal Mental Health NPO, Mbonisi Sibisi is appealing to the government to prioritise mental health issues.<\/p>\n

The group advocates for the accessibility and inclusiveness of all people affected by different mental health conditions<\/a>.\u00a0It is engaging with KwaZulu-Natal residents on Friday through the Psycho-social Disability Month awareness campaign.<\/p>\n

Sibisi says the government has not taken the issue of mental health to where it should be because we believe that it should be treated as other diseases.<\/p>\n

“We know what happened when there was HIV and AIDS. When there was TB and Covid-19 their interventions were vast. Communities were made aware of these things. Mental health is treated as less of a disease. But research has shown it is impacting a lot of people in our communities.”<\/p>\n

Mental health and life coach Khulani Chiliza says he is concerned about the increase in suicide incidents by mental health patients.<\/p>\n

“It does have to be a person running down the street doing questionable things. People need to understand that mental can start with a mere small stress like losing a job, a loved one, or family conflicts even those in debt develop mental problems.”<\/p>\n

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