Scaling up the provision of mental healthcare services in SA has the potential for a sizeable return on investment, according to the department of health’s latest mental health strategy.
The department of health and the Treasury commissioned research on the investment case for mental health, which found the economic value of restored productivity over a 15-year period between 2020 and 2035 would come to R60.2bn, if the government doubled mental health expenditure and significantly scaled up mental health services. While these investments would be considerable, it noted that the estimated economic losses due to mental health disorders ran to R151bn in 2021 and would amount to R2.
Quoting the World Health Organisation’s definition, she said good health is a state of complete physical, social and mental wellbeing. The strategy was launched at a two-day mental healthcare conference in Johannesburg. Health minister Joe Phaahla told delegates that contrary to expectations, SA has not seen an increase in the number of people seeking mental health services in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in either the public or private sector. This is in line with research published recently in the British Medical Journal, which concluded that the pandemic did not cause a significant decline in mental health.