Private hospital group Netcare says demand for mental healthcare remains strong as more South Africans seek help for illnesses that were once considered taboo.
“Demand for mental health remains strong and notwithstanding the temporary unavailability of beds at certain high occupancy sites for essential refurbishment,” the group said in a trading update on Tuesday.
The Professional Board for Psychology, which falls under the ambit of the Health Professions Council of on Tuesday said anxiety and depression remain among the most common mental health conditions in SA.
The organisation warned that access to mental health facilities in SA is often hindered by poverty, limited resources and an already stretched healthcare system.
“Mental healthcare is not a luxury; it is a right,” said Professor Justin August, chair of the Professional Board for Psychology.
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that every South African — regardless of background, location, or income — has access to quality, affordable, and culturally sensitive mental healthcare.”
Bestmed Medical Scheme, SA’s fourth-largest open medical plan, told Business Day last year that it had experienced growing demand for mental health services alongside a rising prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, resulting in higher claims.
Discovery Life in April said one in five death claims it received last year were due to unnatural causes, with suicides accounting for 35% of the claims, followed by car accidents, at 23%.
Mental health strategies
The data underline a deepening crisis that could prompt policymakers in the health department to revisit and reform mental health intervention strategies, disburse additional funds for early diagnosis and treatment, and implement measures to address the root causes of mental distress.
The Discovery Life report touches on related issues in the wider healthcare sector. Data from its sister company, Discovery Health, SA’s largest open medical scheme, shows that 63% of claimants were registered as having been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or bipolar mood disorder conditions.
Netcare told shareholders it expected an increase of between 2.5% and 4.7% in group revenue for the year ended September. In the same period a year earlier it reported group revenue of R25.2bn.
The group, which is valued at R19.3bn on the JSE, also expects operating profit to improve by between 8.5% and 11.5%, while adjusted headline earnings per share are anticipated to grow by between 16% and 19%.
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