Cape Town Marks Mental Health Awareness Month with New Program

This Mental Health Awareness Month the City of Cape Town health department is taking a stand against the increasing occurrence of mental health issues amongst young people. In association with local stakeholders, they have launched a comprehensive Mental Health Awareness program targeted towards grade 11 students at the Mountview High School in Hanover Park.

Mental Health Awareness Month aims to increase public education about mental health, hoping to decrease the discrimination and stereotype that mentally ill individuals suffer from. The theme for this year - 'Mental health is a universal human right' - underscores the need for communities to work together in enhancing understanding, raising awareness and implementing initiatives that acknowledge mental health as an essential human right.

Mountview High School, a well-known educational institution committed to fostering its learners' abilities, is the chosen venue for this awareness event. The institution's pledge to learner and community wellness is highlighted by promoting resilience, providing a sheltered environment for struggling individuals, and encouraging students to seek help.

An awareness event conducted at the school offered participants health screenings and a chance to engage with presenters. This exemplifies a large-scale effort by the Hanover Park community to tackle the youth's mental health hardships. Plans to extend the program to other grades within the school are in the pipeline.

Given the rising mental health issues amongst youngsters, Patricia van der Ross, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, has emphasized the importance of good mental health for overall wellbeing. She expressed the city’s commitment to promoting a supportive environment, thereby hoping for a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of the up-and-coming leaders of tomorrow.

Support and clinical services for mental health are available at 15 health facilities across the City. City Health clinics' staff is trained to diagnose and manage common mental health conditions with the help of three clinical psychologists.