Parliamentary data reveals rise in mental health patients in regional hospitals

Hundreds of thousands of patients in South Africa seek mental health care at regional hospitals, with an expert warning that a lack of community resources and specialized beds is overburdening the public sector. A parliamentary inquiry led by Dr. Karl Willem du Pré le Roux examined psychiatric units, available beds, and treatment statistics from 2023 onward. From 2023 to June 2026, the number of mental health patients treated ranged from 63,720 in 2023 to 31,458 in 2026, highlighting the strain on provincial hospitals.