To commemorate World Mental Health Day, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Health and Social Development, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, yesterday helped present an educational workshop on mental health to elderly people in Windsor East.
This forms part of the month-long commemoration of older person’s month which includes several programmes aimed at raising awareness about the rights of older persons.
Older people may experience life stressors common to all people, but they also experience stressors that are more common in later life, including health problems like dementia. Older adults are also vulnerable to elder abuse that can lead not only to physical injuries, but also psychological consequences including depression and anxiety.
According to the Department of Health, it is estimated that close to 120 000 people in South Africa are living with dementia with nearly 40% living in Gauteng. The total number of people with dementia is projected to increase to 125 000 in 2030 and 140 000 in 2050.
Like dementia, depression can cause great suffering and leads to impaired functioning in daily life. Depression occurs in 7% of the older population. Symptoms are often overlooked and untreated because they co-occur with other problems usually encountered by older adults.
Furthermore, older people with depressive symptoms have poorer functioning compared to those with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, hypertension or diabetes.
It is for these reasons that the City offers mental wellness programmes at its clinics, including at the clinics where operational hours have been extended.
“We currently have 27 clinics in the City that operate for extended hours, and we will be scaling this up to 36 clinics by the end of June 2020,” said MMC Phalatse.
“As part of the integrated extended service hours in the City’s clinics, the social development department also contributes to the tackling of the social determinants of health in catchment areas. This includes identifying ways to create social and physical environments that promote good health for all citizens.
“The areas of intervention by the department include food insecurity, drug abuse and addiction, indigent households as well as mental health. The work thus focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals, families, groups and communities.”
In addition, the City’s social services are also in line with the integrated extended hours of operation at our clinics. The service hours of the social workers have changed from 08h00 - 16h00 to 11h00 - 17h00. Their focus is on providing psycho-social support to all target groups and also on creating links to skills development programmes, mental wellness, food security and drug abuse prevention programmes for residents in need.
Today, and every day, we encourage residents to find ways to support their relatives and loved ones, especially if, like the elderly, they are more vulnerable. By coming together, we can break down stigma, help others feel supported, and build a healthier, more compassionate society for everyone.
Residents are further encouraged to contact The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) on 011-781 1852 should they need to talk to someone.
Cllr Dr Mpho Phalatse
Member of Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development
City of Johannesburg
Media Enquiries:
Mr Siyanda Makhubo
Stakeholder Manager and Spokesperson
Email: SiyandaMa@joburg.org.za
Cell: 081 548 9078
