The stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health illness remains one of the most challenging problems within communities as it often causes sufferers to avoid seeking treatment due to concerns of being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs or livelihoods.

OFM’s Olebogeng Motse previously reported South Africa’s mental health crisis is costing the economy R161 billion per year via lost days of work, presenteeism (lost productivity when employees are not fully functioning in the workplace because of an illness, injury, or other condition), and premature mortality.

On Tuesday (3/10), the Northern Cape Department of Health took the initiative of dealing with these challenges when a mental health awareness campaign was launched in Kakamas by Northern Cape Health MEC Maruping Lekwene together with Kai !Garib Mayor Marshall Matthys.

Northern Cape Health MEC Maruping Lekwene, Picture: Screenshot

Services such as mental health screening, breast examinations, child health services (immunisations, vitamin A, deworming, nutrition screening), HTS and STI screening, TB screening and testing, chronic conditions screening (blood pressure and glucose), and cervical cancer screening were offered during the launch.

This comes at the back of the cancer awareness campaign held by the North West Health Department at Kuyasa sports ground in Colesberg.

“We are promoting a healthy lifestyle with a key focus on the cancer campaign, as you know October is the cancer awareness month. Just to make our people aware of the dangers of cancer and also to know how to respond if there are any signs of cancer,” said Lekwene.

His department will be going to other places in the province to launch campaigns focusing on healthy lifestyles.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi