The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is calling for the immediate implementation of the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023–2030.
The organisation warns that without swift action, mental healthcare services, particularly for children, will remain insufficient and unevenly distributed across the country.
Dr. Mahlatse Thosago, a member of SASOP, highlighted the urgency of the matter: “We’ve got four years left before the framework is fully implemented. It provides a roadmap for integrated community-based care, but implementation is still failing, and services remain unequal across all provinces. Children’s mental health needs must be treated as a right, not secondary to physical health. The lack of access to care is a gross violation of their human rights, robbing them of quality of life now and in the future and increasing the risk of tragic loss of life.”
SASOP emphasises that children are among the most vulnerable and underserved populations in mental healthcare. The society calls for government, healthcare providers, and civil society to work together to scale up services, improve accessibility, and ensure that mental health is treated with the same priority as physical health.
The organisation also stresses that early intervention and support can prevent long-term social and economic costs and protect children from enduring mental health challenges into adulthood. SASOP’s message comes during Human Rights Week, underscoring the importance of framing mental health as a fundamental human right for children across South Africa.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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