The World Health Organisation defines mental health as: “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to her or his community.” The UN’s World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually on the 10th of October, highlights the importance of mental health support in South Africa.
However, while historically South Africa has had more facilities available for institutional mental health care than other African countries, access to remedial mental health services for both out- and in-patients remains severely limited. Unfortunately, this reality means that we must increase awareness of and access to mental health support services, including practical tools such as Psychological First Aid (PFA).
In this post, we will discuss the importance of mental health awareness in South Africa, Psychological First Aid (PFA), and how to access support through SACAP and other resources.
Mental health awareness in South Africa
Given the state of mental health support in South Africa, we need a practical approach to achieving mental wellness on a national scale. The sad reality is that in addition to a lack of remedial health services, South Africa also has some of the highest rates of crime, violence, domestic abuse and sexual abuse in the world. These are all significant factors that can lead to the high prevalence of mental illness, along with HIV/Aids trauma, substance abuse and debilitating poverty.
Despite the Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002’s policy progressions, little has changed in terms of allocating funding and implementing projects and programmes for mental health research, facilities, medications, professional education and public awareness. The result is that the millions of South Africans requiring consistent, quality mental health care services still do not access them, adding a significant cost to the country’s “burden of disease”.
But, while the situation is urgent, there is hope, as with the proper treatment and care, mental health can be effectively managed and supported. While we need critical changes on a macro level, we can empower ourselves and our communities by training more individuals to be “helping hands” when it comes to addressing mental health concerns.
One way to achieve this is through Psychological First Aid (PFA), which we will explore in the next section.
Understanding Psychological First Aid (PFA)
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is just like physical first aid. It involves a first responder acting to support someone experiencing psychological distress, just like there should be in the case of a car accident or other crisis.
PFA is for everyone, no matter what their background or economic situation, especially in situations where a trained mental health practitioner is not immediately available for the necessary trauma support.
Therefore, PFA differs from therapy in that it is the initial response and helps to stabilise a person in distress. After that, a qualified and registered mental health practitioner or facility can step in to provide further assistance. PFA is therefore a crucial first port of call for someone experiencing a mental health crisis and can contribute to making all the difference to the person in the moment.
What PFA looks like in action
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), PFA involves the following:
- Stabilising the person
- Securing a safe space
- Ensuring access to food, shelter, water, and medications if needed
- Connecting them to social support
In a South African context, this kind of crisis response can take place after a natural disaster or any other traumatic event. In the context of Gender Based Violence (GBV) or any situation where a person feels threatened or unsafe, this process will also involve an added layer of safety and discretion to protect the person seeking help.
Why first aid for mental health matters
While we need to have solid infrastructure and support services in place, first aid for mental health is something anyone can do with the proper training. While you would need to study for several years to become a practising psychologist, which you can do through SACAP, PFA is something that the average person can do without in-depth specialist training.
In other words, PFA can assist in situations where there are not enough qualified professionals to help immediately. For example, in the case of a natural disaster, there may not be enough support personnel on hand who can speak the local language. In such cases, trained community members can provide valuable assistance.
Training people in PFA is also a part of a broader move towards general mental wellness in society. As Dr Ashley Smyth, former Academic Dean of SACAP, shares: “The key is that mental health needs to become a priority for the country,” adding:
“… well-being needs to have an urgent agenda that permeates from the psychological first aid required in our communities throughout every aspect of our society – homes, schools, workplaces – and of course, through every level of government where there needs to be commitment to building, implementing and sustaining robust, multi-faceted strategies to support the country’s mental well-being.”
Dr Ashley Smyth
Sadly, high levels of stress, trauma, GBV and natural disasters in South Africa require a proactive approach to mental health support, which includes PFA. People who experience mental health crises may not always be comfortable seeking out a medical professional, due to issues like the stigmatisation of mental illness. However, someone administering PFA can also encourage people to seek further support from trained professionals.
As Dr Smyth points out, “Isolating sufferers effectively prevents them from accessing treatments and the help they need. It robs them of their opportunities to become productive members of our society. It’s as if we are forgetting that as a society, we are only as strong as our weakest link.”
Therefore, while PFA is beneficial in an acute crisis, it also forms part of implementing more holistic mental health care and emotional first aid, which we will now discuss.
Accessing mental health support
As Dr Smyth says: “SACAP is focused on playing a critical role in addressing trauma and dislocation in our society, and in building a more socially cohesive and empowered South Africa.” Therefore, in our blog post, ‘Free GBV-F Mental Health Support Services,’ we list several free and low-cost services that cater to those experiencing GBV-F, but are also applicable to anyone seeking mental health support in South Africa.
At SACAP, we are also committed to promoting mental health awareness and education, as well as empowering mental health practitioners with the relevant tools for trauma support and crisis response. This education is for everyone, from those seeking mental health support to those working in the field, as well as students and individuals looking to support their communities.
For more information about our degree programmes, please visit our course page to learn about relevant training, such as the fully accredited Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) Degree. If you’re looking for short online programmes, SACAP Global offers various online workshops, short courses and micro-credentials in mental health and related topics.
FAQ:
1. What is Psychological First Aid (PFA) and how does it work?
PFA is the first response to people experiencing psychological stress, and according to MSF, it involves stabilising the person, securing a safe space, ensuring access to food, shelter, water and medication if needed, and connecting them to social support.
2. Can anyone offer mental health first aid?
Yes, anyone can offer mental health first aid as long as they have received the proper training.
3. What support services are available for South Africans facing trauma or stress?
There are many free and low-cost services available to South Africans facing trauma or stress, including organisations like SADAG and the free CIPLA Helpline: 0800 456 789.
