As we move into 2026, the SA Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) is sharpening its advocacy focus on what we believe will make the most meaningful difference to South Africa’s mental health system.
Our priorities this year centre on strengthening community-based mental health care, closing the gap between policy and practice, embedding lived experience in decision-making, and increasing public understanding of key mental health policies.
Below, we share our four strategic advocacy priorities for 2026.
- Strengthening Community-Based Mental Health Care and Systems
Community-based mental health organisations are the backbone of care for many people in South Africa, yet they continue to operate under significant governance, funding, and workforce constraints.
In 2026, SAFMH is prioritising support to our 16 Mental Health Societies collaborators to strengthen their governance and sustainability, while amplifying community-based evidence to influence national and provincial decision-making.
We will also advocate for more integrated and culturally responsive models of care, including engagement with traditional healing systems alongside clinic-based services.
What this looks like in practice:
- Providing structured governance and leadership support to affiliate organisations.
- Using aggregated service data from our Annual Statistics collection to advocate for more targeted system reform, relevant to the needs of community-based mental health organisations in South Africa.
Key indicators:
- Number of Mental Health Societies receiving governance support in 2026.
- Number of engagements with national or provincial departments regarding evidence from our Annual Statistics Report.
- Bridging Policy and Implementation through Strategic Partnerships
In 2026, SAFMH is focusing on holding systems accountable for delivering on existing commitments, particularly those outlined in the Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028.
This includes monitoring the implementation of the objectives and seeing if district, provincial, and national government are achieving their roles and responsibilities as per the policy. A key focus area this year is workforce advocacy, particularly around reintroducing psychiatric training within undergraduate nursing curricula.
What this looks like in practice:
- Tracking progress against policy commitments and identifying implementation gaps.
- Convening and supporting alliances to advocate for reintroducing psychiatric training within undergraduate nursing curricula.
Key indicators:
- Number of policy implementation tracking engagements with the Department of Health.
- Number of collective advocacy outputs produced through undergraduate nursing curricula.
- Embedding Lived Experience and Youth Leadership in Decision-Making
Mental health policy and law reform must be shaped by the people most affected by them. In 2026, SAFMH is continuing its commitment to embed people with lived experience and youth leadership in advocacy processes, particularly through the SAFMH Youth Forum and expert-by-experience engagement.
A major focus this year will be supporting meaningful participation in the review of the Mental Health Care Act, ensuring reforms are rights-based, community-oriented, and recovery-focused.
What this looks like in practice:
- Supporting youth and mental health service users to engage in policy and law reform processes.
- Producing accessible explainers to enable broader public participation.
Key indicators:
- Number of Youth Forum members actively engaged in advocacy processes.
- Number of policy or law reform submissions informed by lived experience input.
- Increasing Public Understanding of Policies and Accountability Moments
Advocacy is strongest when the public understands their rights and the systems that affect them. In 2026, SAFMH will prioritise public-facing education and awareness on key documents, including the Disability Bill, Standard Treatment Guidelines, and major accountability moments, such as the updates following the Life Esidimeni hearings.
By strengthening policy literacy, we aim to support informed, collective advocacy that centres dignity, rights, and access to care.
What this looks like in practice:
- Developing clear, accessible explanations of complex policies and processes.
- Hosting public briefings and campaigns linked to national advocacy moments.
Key indicators:
- Number of public-facing policy explainers or briefings produced.
- Reach and engagement across public awareness campaigns.
These priorities reflect where SAFMH believes strategic advocacy can have the greatest impact in 2026. If you see an area where our work aligns with yours – be it through partnership, collaboration, research, funding, or shared advocacy – we would love to hear from you.
Please get in touch to explore how we can work together to strengthen mental health care and rights in South Africa.
