Tembisa Hospital Psychology Department celebrated World Mental Health Day in advance at the hospital conference centre on Wednesday, October 7.
The event aimed to raise awareness about mental health issues in the communities.
The hospital staff were joined by representatives from Ekurhuleni District Clinic.
The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, is Dignity in Mental Health.
Ms Shirley Matjila from Tembisa Hospital said, “Thousands of people with mental health issues are deprived of their human rights. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community.”
“We will be raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity, through human rights oriented policy and law, training of health professionals, respect for informed consent to treatment, inclusion in decision-making processes and public information campaigns,” said Ms Matjila.
