On page 1, I read about the work
of two forensic psychiatrists in the UK involved in the care
and treatment and medico-legal proceedings of a man accused of the
murder of his wife. The trial will take place in South
Africa. "Rapid descent into mental illness" becomes by page
4 an account of the "poor conditions" of South African
prisons with "risk of violence, particularly sexual violence",
whilst one of the co-defendants, the alleged "hit man",
receives "treatment for a brain tumour".
Also on page 4 is the reported death
of a passer-by in Hong Kong when another woman commits
suicide by jumping off a high rise flat landing on the woman below.
Jumping from high buildings is the commonest form of suicide
in Hong Kong where, on average, three people a day take their own
lives. In South Africa, there are rising rates of
suicides by young adults, both males and females, by
hanging as the preferred method, according to a PhD study just
completed by a public health and A&E specialist. One key plea
at the conference I attended recently was the need for doctors
to have a stronger voice in shaping health policy that should focus
on preventable deaths and injuries.
Also on page 4 was a plea from the
South African President, Jacob Zuma, to "cut Easter carnage" on the
roads. Alcohol and very high risk-taking driving is a
major public health challenge in South Africa.
Yesterday I met up with Professor Mark
Tomlinson, a public health specialist. He is involved in the PRIME
project looking at the impact of integrating mental health and
primary care services across Africa and India, with input from
health economists in the UK. Having lived through the political
changes of the last 30 years, Mark was able to give me an
insightful perspective into the huge changes that have occurred in
this country and the challenges still to be overcome. I am
looking forward to working with him and colleagues in Canada to
look at how we can strengthen the role of mental health in public
health.
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