MHM Magazine

The mental health field seems to be gaining global attention within health and wellness topics, especially following the COVID-19 mayhem. Similarly, Africa and South Africa have seen an increase in mental health conditions. In the same breath, the number of charismatic churches, traditional healers and “ sangomas ” are increasing alongside unemployment, poverty, substance use, and crime. Subsequently, conversations and discussions on mental health topics are increasing with relevant questions being asked and reflections made such as: • Is current research, teaching and practice of mental health care relevant to the South African mental health care users? • Are mental health care practitioners competent and adept in assessing, diagnosing and treating mental health problems within the contemporary and modernised South Africa? • Are mental health care practitioners providing ‘culturally-appropriate’ health care services? Owing to the mixed and diverse culture of Africa, mental health and illness in Africa and South Africa needs to be re-conceptualised. Practitioners need to be mindful of the various, unique qualities presented by individuals in assessing, diagnosing and treating mental health problems. The Biopsychosocial medical and psychiatric model adopted, for decades now, has been established on western interpretations of healing and health. This model seems to limit the holistic attempt to understand and classify experiences considered to be outside the boundaries of what is regarded as ‘normalcy’. In essence, the bio-psycho- sociocultural system seems integrative of the dynamic factors that make an individual. Dubbed ‘ the rainbow nation’ by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the colours of the rainbow seem to capture the diverse cultural representation of the South Africans according to: • Ethnicity • Gender • Language • Religion • Social and economic class • Spirituality, and so on… BEING MINDFUL OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITHINTHE AFRICAN CONTEXT EDITORIAL Dr Mirriam Kganya Principal Clinical Psychologist/ Unit Manager Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital/ Private Practice, Pretoria info@drkganyapsychologist.co.za Issue 6 | 2022 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 1 MHM