New research from Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) shows a marked increase in mental-health disorders over the past 13 years but also indicates that structured and personalised interventions are producing measurable improvements in outcomes.
In 2024, one in seven DHMS members (15%) registered or claimed for a mental-health condition – up from 10% in 2012, an equivalent rise of 46% in prevalence. The sharpest increase appeared among young adults aged 18 to 24, where prevalence more than doubled (a 128% increase) from 2012 to 2024.
Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, the administrator of DHMS, said the data show that “mental-health conditions have become one of the fastest-rising disease burdens across the scheme population.”
She added: “Every October, as we recognise International Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that mental health is integral to every dimension of well-being.”
Key findings in the report include:
- The number of members seeking treatment for the first time tripled from 2012 to 2024, with a particularly steep rise during and after the Covid-19 pandemic (70% increase from 2019 to 2023).
- Depression and bipolar mood disorder are the fastest-growing mental-health conditions in the scheme – depression up by about 13% a year since 2012 and bipolar mood disorder by about 8% a year.
- Nearly two-thirds (62%) of all registered mental-health cases in 2024 were depression, representing an 88% increase from 2012. The average age for members affected by depression is 45.6 years.
- In 2024, 86% of members living with a mental-health condition had been diagnosed or claiming for more than a year, underscoring the long-term nature of these disorders.
- Members with a chronic physical condition were significantly more likely (72% higher risk) to register or claim for a mental-health condition than those without multiple chronic conditions.
The research also highlighted gender and age disparities: 62% of DHMS members living with mental-health conditions in 2024 were women, and members aged 18 to 24 showed a large uptick in self-harm related claims.
In 2024, claims linked to self-harm among women were 66% higher than among men (140.6 vs 84.7 per 100 000 members). Among members under 24, self-harm claims rose from 85.6 to 112.6 per 100 000 between 2020 and 2024 (a 32% increase).
Family and social-unit factors also shaped mental-health outcomes: children in families where an adult was diagnosed with depression were five times more likely to experience depression themselves (15% vs 3%).
Meanwhile, single-person policyholders had a 1.38 times higher prevalence of mental-health conditions compared with policies covering four or more people.
Nematswerani said these findings “reflect the familial and shared emotional and environmental factors that influence mental well-being”.
To respond to this evolving burden, Discovery Health has rolled out several targeted programmes:
- Mental Health Care Programme (launched 2020) – an out-of-hospital primary-care pathway covering GP consultations, psychotherapy, antidepressant medication and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT). Among members completing pre- and post-programme assessments, 62% improved PHQ-9 depression symptom scores, while 13% reported worsening symptoms.
- Digital therapeutic for depression – the first funded iCBT solution for depression in South Africa, deployed in partnership with Silvercloud by Amwell®. Post-engagement symptom severity (moderate-to-severe) dropped from 56% to 35%.
- Depression Risk Management Programme (launched 2025) – a proactive six-month care journey that uses machine-learning algorithms and lifestyle/behavioural support to identify and mitigate risk before clinical depression develops.
- Personal Health Pathways – a data-driven member engagement platform: from January to end-October 2025 more than 425 000 members activated the programme, completing 2.6 million weekly exercise actions and 440 000 health actions, including over 63 000 mental well-being assessments. According to Nematswerani, this allows members and clinicians to “monitor their mental-health baseline” and supports earlier detection and intervention.
Nematswerani said the message is one of “both realism and hope”.
“Yes, mental health needs are rising, but so too is our ability to respond effectively. By using data responsibly, partnering with healthcare professionals, and empowering our members with evidence-based tools, we can drive better outcomes at scale.”
