Hosted for Dira Sengwe

Chair: Prof. Jason Bantjes
Date: 28 – 29 October 2025

Attendance Breakdown:
Number of Delegates: 305
Number of Speakers: 88
Exhibitors: 19
Sponsors: 100

Overview:

The 2nd South African Mental Health Conference was held 28–29 October 2025 at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, under the theme “Together for Mental Health.” The conference brought together mental health professionals, policymakers, researchers, educators, community leaders, and people with lived experience to strengthen mental health systems and translate evidence into practice.

Key Highlights and Achievements

• Advanced South Africa’s National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan (2023–2030), promoting community-based, integrated care.
• Highlighted training and capacity-building for healthcare workers, reaching 28,000 providers.
• Emphasized evidence-based approaches to close treatment gaps and integrate mental health with HIV, TB, and primary health care.
• Encouraged lived experience and community engagement to reduce stigma and strengthen inclusion.
• Facilitated multi-sectoral collaboration, sharing best practices, research findings, and innovative strategies to improve mental health services.

The conference reinforced national commitment to inclusive, evidence-informed, and community-centered mental health care, building on progress since the inaugural 2023 event and shaping the way forward for sustainable mental health systems in South Africa.