HEALTH SCIENCES Jennifer Muller Dr J.D. Wagner of the Team draw on a deep pool bodily harm, 3,695 were reported people with psychosocial problems of expertise on the relationship as related to substance abuse. For and intellectual disabilities. SAFMH between crime and mental health members of the Psychiatric Nursing also advocates against unnecessary and are particularly alert to the fact Team, these facts and figures stress institutionalization and promotes that crime is worsened by substance the need to address alcohol and community psychiatric care. The abuse and that both substance substance abuse if crime is to be SADAG advocates for the promotion abuse and crime affect mental reduced of mental health. It runs a toll-free health. South Africa is home to about service for various mental health According to members of the team, 58,78 million people with those problems for all affected, assists the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted aged between 10 and 34 making callers in resolving their mental the relationship between substance up about a third of this number. health issues, provides free online abuse and crime in South Africa. Half of all mental health disorders training to people who initiate a According to the Governance, Public begin by the age of 14. However, the support group in their communities, Safety, and Justice Survey 2020/21 majority of instances go unnoticed and gives ongoing assistance to such released by Statistics South Africa, and untreated with anxiety, post- groups. SADAG is currently linked to crime levels dropped during the traumatic stress disorder and 160 support groups. They also assist period 2020/2021 when strict depression noted as conditions with callers with substance abuse, suicide COVID-19 pandemic restrictions the highest occurrence rates. risk, work stress related issues and and a ban on the sale of alcohol so on. were in place. This shows that when However, as the Psychiatric Nursing Although national organisations do alcohol use is reduced, instances Team are eager to note, those exist, the University of Fort Hare is of crime and violence also fall in suffering from mental ill health do extremely fortunate to have a pool number. Liquor outlets are the third not need to suffer alone. Help is of researchers whose expertise in most likely place to be murdered in available from the South African Psychiatric Nursing Science makes South Africa. Of the 9,556 rape cases Federation for Mental Health them an invaluable resource to all reported in the first quarter of 2022, (SAFMH) and the South African members of the university and the liquor and drugs were reported Depression and Anxiety Group communities it serves with regard to as involved in 1,383. Amongst the (SADAG). The SAFMH, a national NGO the relationship between crime and 72,762 cases of assault and grievous and an association of mental health mental health. practitioners, promotes the rights of Research Report 2021/2022 | 32