EDITORIAL

MENTAL HEALTH: A PRIORITY

BY Rafael Armada | EDITOR

JUNE IS youth month in South Africa. Mental wellbeing has become a general matter of concern, particularly among the youth. In technologically advanced societies, where over-stimulation and individualism are prominent, youth often experience isolation. The culture of overexposure to digital screens and social media is generating bullying, anxiety, and depression among adolescents. In unequal societies, such as South Africa, with high youth unemployment, crime, and violence, many, especially in disadvantaged communities, suffer from frustration which consequently affects their mental wellness.

As Karabo Mokgonyana states in Economic inequalities lead to increased depression and anxiety (mg.co.za), lack of access to basic necessities, such as nutritious food, water and electricity, quality education, housing and healthcare— including mental healthcare— and a heightened sense of insecurity and helplessness, stress the burden, fostering anxiety. Social exclusion, historical trauma, discrimination based on race, gender and disability are other factors which amplify feelings of hopelessness, which are core features of depression.

There is a great need for attention to mental health issues. According to the Wits/ Medical Research Council, 25.7% of South Africans are most likely depressed. However, the government only spends 5% of its total health budget on mental health, placing South Africa at the bottom of international benchmarks of countries’ public spending on this sector with less than 1 person per 10 receiving mental health care. (eapasa.co.za).

Civil and religious groups are trying to find answers to these challenges. CATHCA (Catholic Health Care Association of Southern Africa) is helping those who dare not even talk about mental issues. More and more parishes are establishing Mental Health Ministry (MHM) groups.

Lehlohonolo Mokoena, MHM coordinator at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in the Klerksdorp Diocese, believes that “providing a holistic approach to mental well-being, integrating spiritual and psychological principles are fundamental; cultivating a welcoming and empathetic atmosphere where individuals feel safe to seek help for their mental health struggles even attracts new members to the church community. The Catholic MHM promotes a supportive, compassionate environment where individuals feel valued, understood, on their mental health journeys.”

According to Dr Melese Shula, CATHCA training coordinator, stigma is a significant challenge. Many of those who suffer from mental illness, suffer in silence—often men—hidden and unrecognized by others; frequently experiencing isolation and inadequate support, because of the unjust social stigma attached to mental illness.

As Berry Bishop, Theresa Tisdale and Katharine Putman express in their article Spiritual direction and trauma recovery (thinkingfaith.org), uplifting relationships and a positive spirituality are key contributors to mental health. ‘A relational home’ is a place where pain is known, understood, and held and can gradually become more bearable.

Spirituality, along with a personal optimistic attitude, education, a sense of inner control and self-esteem, enhance individual resilience and have an overall positive impact on mental health.

Healthy relationships provide physical, emotional, and spiritual safety. People often turn to spirituality and religion when they are faced with distressing circumstances and suffering. A closer relationship with God gives us security, being able to process, integrate and adapt to trauma, recover from it and experience post-traumatic growth.

A positive spirituality, and connectedness with God, decreases distress, anxiety and worry, increases the quality of interpersonal relationships and of life, as the abovementioned article points out. Spirituality provides a resource in times of frustration and despair, a sense of belonging, worth, direction, community support, altruism, and hope for life after death. “And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4).