WATCH | Raising mental health awareness: Lentegeur Hospital’s first-ever community walk

• Lentegeur Hospital hosted its first community fun run, attracting 180 participants to raise awareness for Mental Health Month.
• The event aimed to promote mental wellness and break the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
• Hospital CEO Warren Ceasar highlighted the growing issue of drug-induced psychosis and emphasized the importance of community support and mental wellness initiatives.

Lentegeur Hospital has commemorated Mental Health Day and month with a community fun run and walk on the grounds of the hospital.

On Sunday 12 October, 180 people ran or walked a 5 km or 8 km route on the hospital premises to help raise awareness around mental health.

“October is mental health month and on 10 October we celebrate Mental Health Day and we thought it’s fitting as a mental health institution to celebrate and raise awareness of mental health,” says hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Warren Ceasar.

The hospital is one of four public-run facilities in the province and has just under 700 beds.

READ | Mother’s fight to support son with schizophrenia sheds light on mental illness

Ceasar says there is a worrying rise in the number of drug-induced psycosis treated at the facility, in addition to its residential clients, in patient and out patient services to both children and adults from across the province.

“We know it’s a pandemic but we want to take our clients on a mental wellness journey and how better to promote it than having an event at a mental health institution and utilising sport and awareness and bringing people together just to break the stigma, to share knowledge about mental wellness and our journey,” he says.

Henry Tshilenge, Elton Leite, Glen de Jager and Eber Collop representing Edgemead and Celtic Harriers running clubs.

The Lentegeur Hospital team who assisted on the day.

Yonela Mkelembe who is stationed at Mitchells Plain Police Station.

Mankalima Jodwana, Xoliswa Makhale, Nyumie Tshetsha, Meghann Petersen and Delia Meyer from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) School of Nursing.

Thandi Ndlala, Xoliswa Mantyi and Zodwa Deliwe after the fun run.

During apartheid, Ceasar says the facility was built as a way to segregate mentally ill people, but through this initiative it helps to reintegrate clients, showing them they belong.

READ | After his father’s suicide, man rebuilds his life and spreads a message of hope

The event allowed the public to see the extensive grounds and facility.

This was the first time the event was offered. “We would like this to be an ongoing initiative. We got just under 200 participants in the event. We did set a goal for 500, so we are nearly 50 % there and we want to grow it.”