The South African Society of Psychiatrists says there is an urgent need for the government to boost access to critical mental healthcare support services for young people.

SASOP says this is of critical importance, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The society says there are only about seven state-funded facilities, across the country, that cater to providing mental health support services to children and young people under the age of 18.

Board member at SASOP, Dr. Alicia Porter says this includes the 4 units in Gauteng, one in KwaZulu-Natal, and two in the entire Western Cape.

Porter says the Covid-19 pandemic had a severe negative impact on the mental health of young people in South Africa.

Read the complete SASOP statement here.

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