The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn attention to the growing global burden of mental disorders, and to recent advances in our understanding of and ability to treat these disorders. Mental disorders accounted for 12% of the global burden of disease in 2000. This figure will rise to 15% in 2020, when it is estimated that unipolar depression will be the second most disabling health condition in the world. In South Africa, neuropsychiatric disorders account for the second highest proportion of the local burden of disease, after HIV/AIDS.
Reference:
Mehtar, S., Flisher, A. J., Stein, D. J., & Lund, C. (2007). Challenges faced by South African health services inimplementing the Mental Health Care Act: editorial. South African Medical Journal, 97(5), 352-353.
Lund, C., Stein, D. J., Flisher, A. J., & Mehtar, S. (2007). Challenges faced by South African health services in implementing the Mental Health Care Act. South African Medical Journal, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21726
Lund, C, Dan J Stein, A J Flisher, and S Mehtar "Challenges faced by South African health services in implementing the Mental Health Care Act." South African Medical Journal (2007) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21726
Lund C, Stein DJ, Flisher AJ, Mehtar S. Challenges faced by South African health services in implementing the Mental Health Care Act. South African Medical Journal. 2007; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21726.
