The MEC for Health and Social Development, Dr Norman Mabasa, has called for communities to accept, support and love mentally ill patients.

In his address during the Rammbuda Mental Health Day celebration held at the Tshakhumba Sports Grounds last Friday, Mabasa said the community should change their attitude towards mental health patients, because some of their bad actions were committed unwittingly. He added that the good news about most mental illnesses is that recovery is possible.

"Mental illness is treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from other symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.

"According to the World Health Organisation, mental health patients need to be accepted, taken care of and loved by their parents, children, relatives and friends in the healing process," said Mabasa. According to him, the role of the family and communities in the recovery process should be to assist patients to take medication as instructed by health workers, to establish peer support groups, and to encourage healthy living, including physical exercise and a healthy diet. It will also be helpful to give the patients meaningful tasks to perform.