Mental health: Creating access to healthcare through technology

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Every day, there are 23 suicide attempts in South Africa and at least 70% of those attempting suicide have a mental disorder such as depression.

Yet more than 75% of South Africans struggled to get the mental health treatment they need. This is the gap that a local app hopes to fill, by providing support to those with mental health challenges. South African start-up mental health support app Panda offers South Africans access to online tools, activities, and support.

A PLATFORM TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Panda was created by mental health expert and clinical psychologist Allan Sweidan and Alon Lits, former GM and director at Uber South Africa. The app serves as a triage system for people with psycho-social issues and allows users to access care anonymously. The inspiration behind the app was to address the challenge of making mental health care more accessible, says Mr Sweidan. This is essential in communities where people don’t have access to mental health care, or where people don’t know what kind of care they need.

Technology holds the power to bridge this gap, says Mr Lits, as well as transform the industry at large. The Panda app is a digital platform designed to give users easy access to mental health information, community support and expert help. One of the ways it does this is through a feature called the Bamboo Forest.

This allows users to engage with a community of others who may be facing similar challenges. The Bamboo Forest allows for audio-only discussions with peers or facilitated by experts on health-related topics.

There are also assessment tools to enable users to measure their mental well-being and a feature to track and monitor their personal mental health journey. Panda includes a chat feature where users can connect with registered counsellors and book 30-minute text-based chat sessions. Because of the private and anonymous nature of many of the app’s features, users can access support and counselling without fear of stigma.

The stigma attached to mental health disorders, can lead to discrimination against those who are suffering from them, and becomes a barrier to reaching out for help and treatment.

In fact, those living with serious mental illness are more likely to be homeless, incarcerated or unemployed, because they are often ostracised or unable to access care, research suggests.

CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT

“It is estimated that a third of South Africans will suffer from a mental health issue at some time in their lives. We, therefore, dedicated our time and resources to develop the Panda app to give those seeking help a safe space to open up and receive the support they need when they need it,” Mr Sweidan says. The support is sorely needed in South Africa. The county ranks the 10th highest in suicide rates, according to a World Population Review study.

According to the World Health Organisation, South Africa has the third-highest suicide rate on the continent, with almost 14 000 deaths annually. The vast majority of these deaths were among men, who face even more stigma around mental health. Estimates by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) report that around 70 percent of those who try suicide have a mental health disorder, and the most common is depression. SADAG also suggests that between half and a third of all patients with depression are not detected by their local doctor. These figures reveal that South Africa needs urgent intervention and resources to support those navigate mental health issues.

Mr Sweidan says: “Being able to use a smartphone to find mental health support for issues you may be experiencing or set up a oneon-one session with a professional discreetly is a valuable tool that digital innovation enables.” online resources, better quality care, as well as therapy, coaching and support, via mobile devices anywhere in the world. Sector is democratising mental health care and reaching thousands of people who previously may not have received treatment. n

The Panda app is just one example in the fast-growing healthcare sector: Digital mental health services now allow people to access online resources, better quality care, as well as therapy, coaching and support, via mobile devices anywhere in the world. Sector is democratising mental health care and reaching thousands of people who previously may not have received treatment. •

WHERE TO GET HELP

If you or someone you know is struggle with mental health, or has suicidal thoughts or depression, contact the SADAG 24-hour helpline on 0800 12 13 14 or call the LifeLine SA national counselling line on 0861 322 322.

Sources: News24 | RMB | ORF | Technext | DISRUPT Africa | HEALTH-E NEWS | IT-ONLINE