Title: Understanding why mental illness in South African context remains underdiagnosed and
untreated
Author: 62295721
Abstract: A review of the literature suggests that Depression, Bipolar and Schizophrenia are a few
mental disorders, but they are not limited to these. More than 17 million people in South Africa
suffer from a sort of mental health issue and 75% of these people go untreated. South Africans can
not afford proper health care and treatment and as result of that go untreated. Stigmatization around
mental health in South Africa remain a barrier for treatment seeking and people are scared to go for
treatment or to get diagnosed because of this. South Africa’s mental health expenditure resulted to a
5.0% of the total public health budget. Untreated mental illness as well as underdiagnoses are a big
issue and should be reviewed and worked on.
Key words: Depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, mental disorders, mental health, health care,
treatment, stigma, diagnosed, barrier, expenditure, public health, budget, untreated, underdiagnosed
, Contents
UNDERSTANDING WHY MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT REMAINS
UNDERDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED .................................................................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE (LITERATURE REVIEW) ........................................................................ 4
SHORTAGE AND LACK OF HEALTH SERVICES: .................................................................................................................. 4
STIGMITIZATION IN MENTAL HEALTH: ............................................................................................................................. 5
UNDERDIAGNOSED:......................................................................................................................................................... 6
PROBLEM STATEMENT, RESEARCH QUESTION (S) AND RESEARCH AIM(S) ............................................ 8
RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH AIMS ................................................................................................................. 9
MAIN QUESTION: ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
SUB QUESTIONS:.............................................................................................................................................................. 9
RESEARCH AIMS: ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS ..................................................................................................................... 10
RESEARCH DESIGN........................................................................................................................................................ 10
RESEARCH METHOD ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
The research method refers to who I will be using for my research as well as how I will be analysing the data I
receive. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Population and sample group .................................................................................................................................. 10
Data collection ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Data analysis ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
MEASURES TO ENSURE TRUSTWORTHINESS AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................. 11
REFERENCES (IN APA 6TH / 7TH EDITION FORMAT) .......................................................................................... 12
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................................. 15
2
untreated
Author: 62295721
Abstract: A review of the literature suggests that Depression, Bipolar and Schizophrenia are a few
mental disorders, but they are not limited to these. More than 17 million people in South Africa
suffer from a sort of mental health issue and 75% of these people go untreated. South Africans can
not afford proper health care and treatment and as result of that go untreated. Stigmatization around
mental health in South Africa remain a barrier for treatment seeking and people are scared to go for
treatment or to get diagnosed because of this. South Africa’s mental health expenditure resulted to a
5.0% of the total public health budget. Untreated mental illness as well as underdiagnoses are a big
issue and should be reviewed and worked on.
Key words: Depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, mental disorders, mental health, health care,
treatment, stigma, diagnosed, barrier, expenditure, public health, budget, untreated, underdiagnosed
, Contents
UNDERSTANDING WHY MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT REMAINS
UNDERDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED .................................................................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE (LITERATURE REVIEW) ........................................................................ 4
SHORTAGE AND LACK OF HEALTH SERVICES: .................................................................................................................. 4
STIGMITIZATION IN MENTAL HEALTH: ............................................................................................................................. 5
UNDERDIAGNOSED:......................................................................................................................................................... 6
PROBLEM STATEMENT, RESEARCH QUESTION (S) AND RESEARCH AIM(S) ............................................ 8
RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH AIMS ................................................................................................................. 9
MAIN QUESTION: ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
SUB QUESTIONS:.............................................................................................................................................................. 9
RESEARCH AIMS: ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS ..................................................................................................................... 10
RESEARCH DESIGN........................................................................................................................................................ 10
RESEARCH METHOD ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
The research method refers to who I will be using for my research as well as how I will be analysing the data I
receive. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Population and sample group .................................................................................................................................. 10
Data collection ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Data analysis ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
MEASURES TO ENSURE TRUSTWORTHINESS AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................. 11
REFERENCES (IN APA 6TH / 7TH EDITION FORMAT) .......................................................................................... 12
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................................. 15
2
