About the South African Mental Health Advocacy Movement (SAMHAM)
was launched on October 2009, to focus on the needs and rights
of persons with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities
in South Africa.
Mental Health Advocacy is a rapid growing sector nationally
and internationally, where persons with mental disabilities
often with past experiences of injustices committed against
them, formed advocacy groups with specific principles and
with specific emphasis on rights and equal opportunities,
and breaking down barriers that prevent persons with mental
disabilities from achieving this. Stigma and discrimination
remains to be one of the challenges that face persons with
mental disabilities and the movement will be working towards
the elimination of stigma and discrimination.
History: the process of establishing the SA Mental Health
Advocacy Movement started in 2007 and some progress has been
made because there are currently different forums functioning
at different levels. Gauteng province launched its forum in
June 2009. The ideal situation is all the provinces having
their forums and the representative of these forums become
the SAMHAM.
Aims of the SAMHAM: