New Mental Health law coming as Board is unveiled
The newly unveiled eight-member Mental Health Board is expected to look after the welfare, rights and dignity of mental health care users and their families for the next three years.
According to Minister of Health Dr Edwin Dikoloti, the Board is established in line with the Mental Disorders Act of 1971, and the incoming Board members will witness its repeal and the re-enactment of a new Mental Health Act.
The Mental Health Bill 2023 is scheduled to be discussed in Parliament in the winter sitting of Parliament. The Bill seeks to allow for mental health care, treatment and services to be provided to persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of such persons during the delivery of mental health care, treatment and services.
The Board that was officially unveiled this week comprises of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ontlafetsse Segolodi as Chairman, Principal Legislative Drafter at Attorney General Chambers, Tshepho Mokgothu, Lecturer at Department of Psychiatry UB Dr Thangisano Roy, Principal Medical Officer at Sbrana Dr Odirile Siele, Prophet Boitshwarelo Solomon, Founder of Support Emotions Dikatso Selemogwe, Retired Mental Health Coordinator Virginia Chakalisa and Psychiatric Nurse Boikanyo Bikimane.
Dr Dikoloti said when unveiling the new Board that mental health and psychosocial needs are an indispensable part of life, as a result of the crises, shocks and unprecedented changes that people go through.
“The world over, violence, disasters, breakdown of community and family structures, gender inequality, economic inequalities, cultural polarization and racial prejudice are some of the drivers that threaten the mental and psychological wellbeing of people.
The Board is tasked with visiting institutions where persons are detained under the Act, atleast once every six months and may visit any place of detention where persons are detained under the Act. They have the power to make suggestions and observations regarding the welfare of patients in any institution. In addition, they may be called on by the State President to inquire into the case of any person detained under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act and report back.
While the Board has their work cut out for them, they are still to go through hurdles, as currently there are several challenges to contend with. For starters, the mental health sector is burdened with lack of human resources.
Currently, there are only seven Psychiatrists in public facilities and the number of Nurses has gone down from over 200 to 140 as some nurses have sought greener pastures elsewhere. On the flip side, the shortage of staff has to deliver services to over 47 000 mental health patients.
Hospital Superintendent of Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Joseph Mikobi Sharma said in addition, they have seen a significant spike in Substance Use Disorders, with numbers rising with each passing year. In 2021 they had 231 cases and in 2022 they recorded 707 cases, a 300 per cent increase from the previous year.
“We have a serious problem especially with young people. And these are people who are supposed to be productive in school and work,” he said, adding that 75 percent of the cases are attributed to the use of cannabis.
He further revealed that Sbrana Hospital is in the process of opening a substance disorder clinic, as well as a ward dedicated to substance abuse. These, according to Dr Sharma have been funded at an amount of P1.6 million sourced from the Alcohol Levy. The funds will go towards, equipment to ensure that the ward is fully functional and towards rehabilitation of patients.
He also decried congestion at the Psychiatric hospital that currently has 300 beds but now exceed limit to around 120 per cent occupancy. “When district psychiatric units of Sekgoma in Serowe, Letsholathebe in Maun, and Scottish in Molepolole closed, patients were referred to Sbrana,” he said.
Dr Sharma further said among their challenges is the low availability of medication. He further explained that most districts do not have second-generation drugs that are more advanced and better than first generation in terms of negative effects on patients. He said for that reason more patients come to Sbrana for more second-generation medication that is user friendly and does not disrupt the lives of users.
His other worry is the fact that mental illness still attracts a lot of stigma, preventing those affected from seeking appropriate interventions.
The new Chairman, Segolodi is however upbeat that the Board will do all its power to ensure that mental health services reach the people they are intended for. He highlighted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an influx of scrupulous “specialists” are coming into the sector, purporting to be offering mental health services to unsuspecting members of the public.
“We will also help the ministry in such issues,” he said.