Latest news with #BaviVythilingum
IOL News
06-08-2025
- Health
- IOL News
The rising threat of unqualified influencers to women and families
Dr Bavi Vythilingum Image: Supplied WOMEN'S physical and emotional wellbeing forms the cornerstone of healthy communities. Despite significant advances in medical science, a troubling global trend is emerging that threatens this foundation and undermines the professional care many women rely on. Why women's health matters to all of us Women's health is everybody's health, and when women and girls are well supported, mental wellbeing improves across families and society. When a mother, partner, or daughter is struggling, it has a ripple effect on the whole family's happiness and stability. Women experience additional mental health burdens at every stage of life that men cannot fully empathise with, and traditionally girls and women have had to bear significant struggles in silence. Today, we have empirical evidence of the abrupt hormonal and physical changes that occur when girls start menstruating, during pregnancy, through the childbearing years to perimenopause, menopause and into our senior years. These transitional phases may lead to times of heightened mental health risk which need to be managed for affected women. The dangers of misinformation in women's healthcare A global tidal wave of unqualified and biased misinformation is undermining evidence-based treatment options available to women. This is no longer restricted to the fringe views of influencers on social media, as recently demonstrated in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel on the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy. With South African women already at higher risk than our global counterparts for perinatal depression, it is especially concerning that the views of people with no medical background are going viral. Rising populist sentiments are displacing informed medical perspectives in the United States and are receiving attention from unsuspecting women here at home too. As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) pointed out in response to the FDA panel's views on the use of SSRIs during pregnancy, it is dangerous to minimise the importance of mental health for women in pregnancy and postpartum – and indeed at any stage of life. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The crucial role of medical expertise Every woman has the right to make an informed decision about whether medication is right for her, and the risks and benefits of psychiatric medicines must always be discussed with the prescribing clinician. It is disconcerting, however, when people take the advice of social media influencers and conspiracy theorists over established medical science when their lives and the wellbeing of their children may be at stake. As just one example, perinatal depression can have devastating consequences for both mother and baby, including emotional suffering, difficulty bonding with her baby and, at its worst, thoughts or acts of self-harm and suicide. In terms of the baby's health, depression during pregnancy is associated with risks of high blood pressure, preterm delivery, and babies not growing and developing as well as they should. Untreated postnatal depression is one of the biggest risk factors for mental illness in the affected mother's children, particularly as they become young adults, and can have marked effects on the development of the child. Dr Bavi Vythilingum – psychiatrist practising at Netcare Akeso Kenilworth. The views expressed are her own and does not necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or IOL. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
TimesLIVE
04-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Young doctors and dentists offered free medical aid cover for a year
Young doctors and dentists making the tough transition from study to practice are eligible for 12 months of free medical aid cover from Profmed. The medical scheme said eligible candidates must be under the age of 30, must have completed community service in the past two years and are either unemployed or have found work within the previous six months. The initiative is linked to finDR, a digital platform launched by Profmed to connect newly qualified medical professionals with job placements across the country as locums and in permanent positions. More than 800 qualified doctors are on the platform. 'This isn't only about benefits,' said Profmed CEO Craig Comrie. 'It's about ensuring young professionals don't fall through the cracks. 'We've heard from far too many doctors who, after years of study and community service, are left without work, income or the ability to access private health care. That's unacceptable.' This comes amid concerns about the pressure young doctors work under, prompting a call for healthcare professionals to recognise the risk of burnout and depression by Dr Bavi Vythilingum, a psychiatrist practising at a Netcare Akeso clinic in Kenilworth, Cape Town. 'It is deeply concerning that at least 50% to 60% of healthcare professionals will experience depression at some point during their working lives. Junior doctors are particularly vulnerable, and their risk for depression and burnout seems to be increasing. 'One of the factors that contributes to burnout is work overload as doctors are expected to do more and more within the same amount of time. 'Beyond patient consultations, they face a growing mountain of paperwork, from medical aid forms and insurance requirements to documentation and providing clinical feedback on patients with complex medical needs.' Vythilingum said doctors are expected to never fall ill physically and with their mental health. 'We are expected to keep going, no matter what. This means many doctors don't seek mental health care when they need it, often because they are afraid this reflects negatively on their competence or ability to practice. 'Tragically, doctors often wait until they can't cope before seeking mental healthcare, and by then it becomes more difficult for us to help, where earlier intervention could have prevented such a serious decline that it may affect all areas of their lives. 'Like their patients, doctors must feel empowered to seek help early, whether through confidential counselling, peer support groups or mental health resources tailored to healthcare professionals.' Netcare invited South Africans to join an international awareness movement aimed at increasing support for mental health for medical professionals. 'Everyone is encouraged to wear colourful, mismatched or otherwise attention-grabbing socks to mark Crazy Socks 4 Docs on the first Friday in June every year,' the hospital group said.
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
A medical breakthrough, or a dangerous shortcut? Health Beat investigates the ketamine craze
In the latest episode of Health Beat, we unpack the growing use of the psychedelic drug, ketamine, to treat severe depression and chronic pain. Research shows it can work quickly to improve mood, but experts are concerned about the rise of unregulated clinics using ketamine in ways that aren't backed by solid evidence or properly supervised. What began as a good anaesthetic because of its pain-beating properties has evolved into a so-called game-changing treatment for depression, but with no clear guidelines, clinics are cashing in. Also linked with the party scene and celebrity scandals, ketamine is promoted online as a treatment for migraines, anxiety, addiction and ADHD, but are these claims credible? In South Africa, doctors can prescribe ketamine, even though drip infusions haven't been approved by our medicines regulator, Sahpra, for anything outside anaesthesia. Specialists warn that ketamine therapy requires expert training and monitoring. Psychiatrist Bavi Vythilingum, who runs a clinic offering ketamine infusions with an anaesthetist present, reports good results, but is concerned about 'cowboy clinics' run by doctors without extra training in psychiatry and anaesthesiology.
