Durban and Coastal Mental Health led a march to the city hall on Thursday to mark World Mental Health Day. The group want the government to increase funding and resources to organisations offering services and support for people with mental health conditions and their families. Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko
By Tsoanelo Sefoloko – this post first appeared on GroundUp
IN SUMMARY: Event: Around 100 people, including learners from special needs schools, marched to Durban’s city hall on Thursday, marking World Mental Health Day. Purpose: The protest aimed to raise awareness about mental health, combat stigma, and demand increased government funding and resources for mental health services and support. Protest Organizer: Durban and Coastal Mental Health led the protest.
- Representatives:
- Lungisani Mthiyane (Durban and Coastal Mental Health) expressed disappointment at the absence of the Department of Health. “We are going to follow up as to why they decided to ignore our invitation. Today is a day that the department was supposed to show support.”
- Ntokozo Nxumalo (NEHAWU provincial deputy secretary) highlighted the union’s solidarity with the protest. “We want to emphasise that mental health is everybody’s responsibility.”
- Mlulama Ngcobo (Municipality representative) accepted the protesters’ memo and promised that the memo would reach the mayor, who was in a special council meeting.
- Nathi Olifant (Provincial Health Department) said he would investigate the department’s lack of response to the invitation.
Protest Demands:
- End Mental Health Stigma: The picketers called for an end to the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
- Increased Government Funding: They demanded more financial support for organisations providing mental health services.
- Access to Services: They highlighted the lack of access to affordable mental health services due to socio-economic barriers.
Protesters’ Memo:
- Mental Health Budget: Only 5% of the national health budget is allocated to mental health, while a third of the population is affected.
- Municipal Services: The memo criticized the categorization of mental health service providers as private businesses by the eThekwini municipality, calling for affordable or free mental health services.
