The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness month by the South African Government. The objective is not only to educate the public about mental health, but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.

According to the national Department of Health website, an estimated 400-million people worldwide suffer from mental or neurological disorders, or from psychosocial problems. These include disorders related to alcohol and drug abuse.

Students in the School of Pharmacy at the University of the Western Cape hosted a Mental Health day on campus, with stalls and activities to help students who struggle with mental health and pressures related to the University experience.