consumer information

Database

• The Mental Health Resource Guide of Southern Africa
  The Mental Health Resource Guide of Southern Africa is a publication of the Mental Heath Information Centre of SA (MHIC). Each year the MHIC updates and publishes this reference guide with the aim of facilitating the referral of those with mental illness to appropriate care. Mental illnesses are highly prevalent and carry considerable personal and economic costs. However, effective treatment is available and many organisations are working to improve mental health literacy and address the stigma associated with these conditions. The growth of the Resource Guide is in part attributed to this increasing understanding of mental illness amongst professionals and lay groups, as well as to the considerable interest this publication has generated since its first edition in 1996.  The Mental Health Resource Guide provides an updated listing of mental health professionals and consumer groups in Southern Africa. Contact the Mental Health Information Centre of SA for further information at:
  Tel: (021) 938 9229 | Fax: (021) 931 4172 | e-mail: mhic@sun.ac.za
  

General information

• Myths and facts about mental health
• Stigma in psychiatry
• Stigma and mental illness - Fact sheet
• Health care discrimination against the mentally ill. A comparison of private health insurance benefits for major depressive disorder and ischaemic heart disease in South Africa.
• The Impact of Physical Health Problems for Persons with Severe Mental Disorders (pdf format, 44 kb)

Mental Disorders Information Sheets
these documents are prepared by the Mental Health Information Centre of SA, with details where to get help in South Africa.

• Overview of anxiety disorders
• Alzheimer's disease
  • About the disease and
  • where to get help;
• Bathuthuzele stress clinic
  • About the clinic;
• Binge-eating disorder
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help;
• Brain injuries
  • About
  • Brain injury and the role of support groups
• Dementia
  • Facts about dementia
• Depression
  • About depression and
  • where to get help;
• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help;
• Insomnia
  • About insomnia and
  • where to get help;
• Medications for treating the anxiety disorders
  • About the medications and
  • where to get help;
• Memory problems
  • Memory problems in the elderly
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help;
• Panic disorder
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help;
  • facts about the disorder
• Phobias
  • About phobias
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help;
• Social anxiety disorder
  • About the disorder and
  • where to get help