Profile of the Current Psychiatrist Workforce in South Africa: Establishing a Baseline for Human Resource Planning and Strategy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Janse van Rensburg ◽  
Carla Kotzé ◽  
Karis Moxley ◽  
Ugasvaree Subramaney ◽  
Zukiswa Zingela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
South African Society

Abstract The WHO Global Health Observatory Data Repository reports South Africa with 1.52 psychiatrists/100 000 of the population among other countries in Africa with 0.01 psychiatrists/100 000 (Chad, Burundi and Niger) to more than 30/100 000 for some countries in Europe. The overall situation, while being cognizant that mental health care is not only provided by specialist psychiatrists and that the current treatment gap may have to be addressed by strategies such as appropriate task sharing, suggests that there are actually too few psychiatrists to meet the country’s mental health care needs. To address the need to develop a strategy to increase the local specialist training and examination capacity, a situational review of currently practicing psychiatrists was undertaken by the [BLINDED] and the [BLINDED], using the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) membership database. The number, distribution and attributes of practicing psychiatrists were compared with international figures on the ratio of psychiatrists/100 000 population. In April 2019 there were 850 qualified psychiatrists actively practicing in the country and based on the national population figure of 55.6 million people (2016 Census), the psychiatrists/100 000 ratio was 1.53. This indicates no improvement between 2016 to 2019. From the SASOP database, we determined that about 80% of psychiatrists are working in the private sector - a much higher proportion than is usually quoted. As the vast majority of psychiatrists are practicing in urban areas in two provinces, Gauteng (n=350) and Western Cape (n=292), the ratio of psychiatrists/100 000 in these areas is relatively higher, at 2.6 and 5.0 respectively. Whereas rural areas in South Africa are largely without specialist mental health expertise, at a rate of 0.03/100 000 population. This investigation provides a discipline-specific situational review of the attributes and distribution of the current workforce of specialists in the country.

scholarly journals COVID-19, psychosocial issues, politics, and public mental health care

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-303
Author(s):  
Anthony L Pillay ◽  
Anne L Kramers-Olen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Public Mental Health Care

The COVID-19 pandemic heralded challenges that were both significant and unfamiliar, placing inordinate burdens on health care systems, economies, and the collective psyche of citizens. The pandemic underscored the tenuous intersections between public mental health care, politics, economics, and psychosocial capital. In South Africa, the inadequacies of the public health system have been laid bare, and the disproportionate privileges of the private health care system exposed. This article critically considers government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychosocial correlates of lockdown, politics, corruption, and public mental health policy in South Africa.

Mental health policy in Greece: Implications into practice in the era of economic crisis

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 539-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Grammatikopoulos ◽  
S. Koupidis ◽  
E. Petelos ◽  
P. Theodorakis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Health Care Facilities

IntroductionBudgets allocated for mental health make up a relatively small proportion of total health expenditures, although there is an increasing burden of mental disorders.ObjectivesTo review the mental health situation in Greece with regards to mental health policy through review of relevant literature.AimsTo explore the basic implications of the economic crisis from a health policy perspective, reporting constraints and opportunities.MethodsA narrative review in PubMed/Medline along with a hand search in selected Greek biomedical journals was undertaken, relevant to mental health policy.ResultsGreece is among the OECD countries with high health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (9.7% of GDP in 2008) but it doesn’t have a specified budget for mental health and is mostly depended in out-of-pocket expenditure (48%). The system is plagued by problems, including geographical inequalities, overcentralization, bureaucratic management and poor incentives in the public sector. The lack of cost-effectiveness and the informal payments comprise a major source of inequity and inefficiency. Uneven regional distribution of psychiatrists exists and rural areas are mostly uncovered by mental health care facilities, as well as extramural mental health units and rehabilitation places, despite the current reorganization of the whole mental health care delivery system.ConclusionsThe core problem with mental health services in Greece is the shrinking budget with poor financial administration consistent with inadequate implementation of mental health policy. A clear authority with defined responsibility for overall mental health policy and budgetary matters is needed.

Optimizing a Halfway House to Meet Mental Health Care Users’ Occupational Needs

2021 ◽  
pp. 000841742110448
Author(s):  
Itumeleng Augustine Tsatsi ◽  
Nicola Ann Plastow
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Halfway House ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Halfway Houses

Background. Halfway houses (HwH) may support community reintegration of mental health care users and can be effective in meeting occupational needs of residents. However, they are not optimally used in South Africa. Purpose. This study aimed to improve the functioning of a HwH so that it better meets occupational needs of the resident mental health care users. It draws on Doble & Santha; ( 2008 ) seven occupational needs. Method. A four-phase Participatory Action Research methodology was used. We conducted thematic analysis to describe met and unmet needs within PAR phases. Findings. Occupational needs of accomplishment, renewal, pleasure and companionship were being met. However, coherence, agency and affirmation needs were not being met. An additional occupational need for interdependence, based on the African ethic of Ubuntu, was identified. Implications. HwH functioning affected residents’ experiences of health and wellbeing. Engagement in collective occupations can contribute to meeting the occupational need of interdependence.

scholarly journals A Socio-ecological Framing of the Philippine Mental Health Act of 2017

Spectrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiah Michael Villareal De Los Santos ◽  
Sonya Jakubec
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Sphere Of Influence

Filipinos experience numerous barriers to mental health care in their country, such as stigmatization ofillness and behaviours, lack of mental health care services, and resource deficits. The Philippine MentalHealth Act of 2017 was formed to resolve these issues and is in its early stages of implementation.Legislation and policy interventions of this nature are but one level of many interventions that can addresshealth care at a population level. The influence of this legislation for different levels of society is analyzed inorder to understand the different barriers and alternatives to its implementation. Solutions suggested in thelegislation, such as addressing lack of accessibility in rural areas, creating liaisons between different levelsof mental health care, and educating the population regarding mental health, are explored for their effects ondifferent spheres, or levels, of influence. The comprehensiveness of the legislation to address the needs ofmental health service users are highlighted, as are barriers to implementation that inhibit the realization ofpractical strategies. This policy case review and analysis informs program development by highlighting thestrengths and weaknesses aligned to the legislative articles’ target sphere of influence and the population.

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