25th Annual Student Research Conference
A Critical Analysis of the Mental Healthcare System in South Africa
Jennifer G. Pearlstein
Dr. Elaine McDuff, Faculty Mentor
Since apartheid, South Africa has become a leader for Africa and an example worldwide of a transitioned nation. Despite its major advancements, post-apartheid South Africa still faces innumerable challenges in implementing policies, especially those in which the government seeks to provide appropriate services to its citizens. An often overlooked and under-researched area is the mental healthcare system. This project seeks to explore and critically assess the current status of the mental healthcare system in South Africa, the complications of utilizing Westernized systems and standards on a predominately non-Western culture, and the areas in most need of improvement. This project also uniquely considers my firsthand experience completing an internship at a residential mental health hospital in Cape Town, South Africa and incorporates responses by native South Africans.
Keywords: human rights, mental health, South Africa
Topic(s):Democracy and Human Rights in South Africa
Sociology
Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 101-6
Location: VH 1324
Time: 8:50