Violence, alcohol abuse and mental disorders are “inextricably linked and pose a major public health challenge”. Yet there is a lack of recognition of the links between the three, and few properly trained healthworkers to recognise and address patients’ substance abuse.   This is according to Jo-Anne Corrigall from the University of Cape Town’s School of Public Health and Family Medicine and the Medical Research Council’s Richard Matzopoulus writing in the SA Health Review.   South Africa is one of the most violent countries in the world. South Africans are 30 percent more likely to die violently than those in other sub-Saharan countries, according to the World Health Organisation.   Interpersonal violence was the second highest causes of death and disability in 2000. Our homicide rates are eight times the global norm, while the rate of women murdered by their intimate partners is one of the highest in the world.

VHEMBE. – Gloria Mathukha is used to be called ‘crazy’ or ‘mad woman’, but this doesn’t make it any easier. This 36-year-old woman from Matavhela village in Limpopo has a mentally disability and suffers constant discrimination from members in her community. “I feel very sad and disturbed in my soul and my heart because everywhere I go in the community people call me a ‘crazy woman’. I don’t like to be called that. It makes me feel very different from other people, like I’m abnormal, and that breaks my heart,” said Gloria. Gloria’s older sister, Mercy Mathukha said: “I don’t think people are doing right by my sister because she feels unwelcome here in the community and that is because they tease her because of her disability and are always calling her names. “I really don’t understand why people should tease her like that because she doesn’t deserve to be