Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
17 September 2025 | 17:15 CAT

📸 Mental health experts gather at the 2025 SASOF conference in East London to address South Africa’s urgent mental health crisis. (Image: iStock)

As the 2025 SASOP conference convenes in East London this week, psychiatrists from across Africa are sounding the alarm on South Africa’s deepening mental health crisis. Startling figures reveal that up to 92% of South Africans living with mental illness never receive treatment, a statistic experts warn has devastating consequences for individuals, families, and society at large.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Dr Melane Van Zyl of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) stressed that the crisis is not just one of resources, but also of access. “We don’t have enough funds, doctors, nurses, or professionals to help patients. But it’s also not easy to find your way into accessing mental health care,” she explained.

The numbers are stark: three out of four South Africans with common conditions such as depression and anxiety go untreated, while fewer than one in ten patients with severe mental illness receive the care they need. Rural areas, particularly provinces like the Eastern Cape, face an even sharper crisis. “There are psychiatric hospitals that don’t even have a psychiatrist, even though they treat these patients,” Van Zyl revealed.

The consequences of untreated mental illness ripple far beyond the individual. “People have higher incidences of suicide, they abuse substances, and they are not economically productive. It’s a vicious circle,” she noted. The impact spreads to families, workplaces, and entire communities, undermining both social cohesion and the country’s already fragile economy.

Experts argue that the solution lies in bringing care closer to communities. “Care should be extended to where people are. The only way to achieve that is to upskill and educate local doctors, nurses, social workers, employers and even teachers to identify and manage these problems,” Van Zyl urged.

But beyond grassroots solutions, systemic change is needed. Despite the scale of the crisis, mental health receives only a fraction of the national health budget, with policies often left unfunded and unimplemented. “Government is aware that they should help, but there are many problems. Policies are not being implemented. It’s just an all-over problem,” she said.

The cost of inaction is measured in lost lives, shattered families, and weakened communities. Experts stress that education, awareness, and stigma reduction campaigns are essential alongside greater government commitment. As Van Zyl concluded: “Everybody should become aware of these things and know what role they can play to help.”

South Africa’s mental health crisis is no longer just a medical issue, it is a societal emergency demanding urgent action.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Annisa Essack and Dr Melane Van Zyl.