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- October 10, 2025
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- Africa Health Research Institute, Child Health, mental health, News, PTSD, Quick Read, SAMRC, World Mental Health Day
Health-e News
South Africa’s youth face a mental health crisis
By the numbers: The big picture:Globally, mental health challenges are among the leading causes of illness and disability in young people. In South Africa, these pressures are intensified by poverty, violence, and limited access to care. What they’re saying: “Young people are navigating a critical phase of human development during which they experience heightened vulnerability to environmental factors that shape their mental health,” said Prof. Carrie Brooke-Sumner, Specialist Scientist at the SAMRC Mental Health, Alcohol, SubstanceUse and Tobacco Research Unit (MASTRU). “In South Africa, the environmentalforces include exposure to the effects of poverty and violence.” The details: The gap: “The vast majority of young people with mental health problems do not seek help or receive care,” said Prof. Jason Bantjes, Director of MASTRU. “Sometimes this is a result of resource constraints and a scarcity of health professionals who are properly trained to identify and treat childhood psychiatricconditions. But stigma and a lack of knowledge among teachers and parents can alsocontribute to children not getting the care they need.” Why it matters:Untreated childhood mental health problems can persist into adulthood, leading to long-term physical and psychological harm. While effective treatments exist, many South Africans cannot access them. Zoom out:Reliable national data on child and adolescent mental health is scarce. Most existing studies are small or unrepresentative, limiting policymakers’ ability to design effective interventions. What’s next: “We’re starting to understand how schools and learning environments shape mental health,” said Prof. Xanthe Hunt from the Africa Health Research Institute.“But we need to do more to build psychosocially friendly education systems that support young people’s well-being.” -Health-e News
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