An examination of outpatient referrals for psychological consultation at a psychiatric hospital in South Africa was undertaken. Over an 18-month period, 87.1% of a total of 31 children were referred with problems of poor school performance. Behaviour problems were underrepresented. The results are discussed in the context of inadequate community mental health services, which are implicated in the under-detection of childhood psychopathology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. (1979) Report of the committee to visit South Africa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 1498–1506.
2.
DawesA. (1985) Politics and mental health. South African Journal of Psychology, 15, 55–61.
