Phodiso House (which is Sesotho for “house of healing”) is established with the sole purpose of providing treatment to patients who may not have the financial means to afford private mental health care. We believe that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserves access to quality mental health services, and Phodiso House is a vehicle to make this possible.

South Africa’s mental health infrastructure is severely inadequate, with a significant shortage of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Recent estimates show only about 1.52 psychiatrists and 0.32 psychologists per 100,000 people, much lower than the global average. This shortage is worse in rural areas compared to urban regions.

The mental health care system is also underfunded, with less than 5% of the National Department of Health’s budget allocated to mental health. Public facilities are often overcrowded, understaffed, and lack essential resources. This forces many to seek help in the overburdened general health care system or rely on informal, unregulated sources of care.