This Mental Health Investment Case for South Africa, commissioned by the National Department of Health in November 2019, represents the result of three years of sustained dialogue and collaboration with the National Department of Health, involving key Provincial partners, clinicians, financing experts, patient rights and community advocacy groups and prominent academics, all of whom are committed to upholding the rights of persons living with Mental, Neurological and Substance use Disorders in South Africa.

Although the health system of South Africa has made significant strides since democracy, our collective efforts have not addressed the complexity of problems our mental health system encounters, nor have these efforts paid due recognition to the significant and growing burden of mental illness in our country. Further, the post-apartheid society of today continues to be characterized by structural concerns that entrench poor mental health among certain groups, in particular, among the most disadvantaged in our society.
Calls to improve and scale-up investments in a broad range of proven promotion, prevention and treatment interventions for mental health have been articulated widely over the past two decades. Beyond health benefits, these actions have been shown to yield impressive benefits to our collective social well-being and the broader economy. Technical guidance to support the development, financing, and implementation of an accessible, equitable and comprehensive mental health care system, integrated at all levels of the health system is urgently needed.

The purpose of this Mental Health Investment Case (MHIC) is to share a 15-year vision for meeting the mental health and economic needs of South Africa, offering concrete recommendations for how to achieve these gains. This Investment Case draws significantly on the guidance of Global actors including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The timing of the MHIC Task Team’s work has overlapped with the passing of the NHI Bill, the ongoing development of the Service Benefits Framework (SBF), the drafting of the next Non-communicable Disease (NCD) National Strategic Plan, the Life Esidimeni Arbitration Award and the publication of the Report on the National Investigative Hearing into the Status of Mental Healthcare in South Africa.

View the complete Mental Health Investment Case for South Africa Research Report