Mental Health In SA : Part 5
Monica Brown
Social Impact Catalyst | Media Maven | GBV Coach | Leadership Coach | Digital Transformation Coach
Good Morning Everybody
Welcome June and July we already waiting for you too. I am excited as this month we will be celebrating some very important people in my life. This month is also a month of many decisions.
Happy new month.
Yes we halfway through 2023 almost and some of us had not even done anything to our New Years resolutions.
Today we look at what awareness and outreach programs are available to curb the stigma related to mental health in our South African Communities.
Mental illness is not something that a lot of South African families are willing to talk about openly, especially in Indian, Coloured and Black families. I speak from experience.
The issues are often treated as taboo, things that are not meant to be spoken about openly.We need to look at ways to open the dialogue and change the narrative.
What is a mental health awareness?
Mental health awareness is the ongoing effort to reduce the stigma around mental illness and mental health conditions by sharing our personal experiences. Often, because of misconceptions about mental health and mental fitness, people often suffer in silence and their conditions go untreated.
How can we bring awareness to mental health?
Talk About Mental Health Issues Openly.Talking openly about your own battles with mental health, and asking after and genuinely listening to your family and friends' responses can, in turn, encourage them to speak out about their symptoms and emotions and possibly seek help.
Why do we need self awareness for mental health?
Being self-aware leads the way to personal growth because it helps individuals become better decision-makers and problem-solvers while finding ways to improve.
Self-control and emotion regulation: Being self-aware leads to emotional awareness, which allows individuals to regulate their emotions.
Why is mental health awareness important?
Public awareness is important to increase enthusiasm and support, stimulate self-mobilisation and action, and to mobilise local knowledge and resources. Raising political awareness is especially important as policy makers and politicians are key actors in the policy process of adaptation.
Successful Mental Health Awareness Campaigns Globally
5 successful mental health campaigns to know about in 2023
Successful Mental Health Awareness Campaigns in South Africa
The Speak Your Mind (SYM) Campaign is a nationally driven and globally united campaign, advocating for ending the silence around mental health.
2. '60.4.60' campaign raises awareness about men's mental health
The project is a student-run campaign and aims to help raise awareness focusing on mental health for men in South Africa.
3. South African Mental Health Advocacy Movement
Strengthening existing advocacy groups, supporting the establishment of new ones where such groups are still lacking, identifying individuals with leadership potential and developing them into leaders for the mental health movement around which ongoing advocacy and awareness activities can be built.
4. BERTHA CENTRE MENTAL WELLBEING CAMPAIGN : UCT
As part of the Youth Innovations (YI) portfolio’s commitment to better support the youth development and wider social development ecosystem, the YI portfolio kicked off the development and implementation of a youth mental health advocacy campaign in 2022.
5. ‘Mentally Aweh’ campaign is to raise funds for South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), who provide counselling to thousands of South Africans each day.
6. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
This organisation is at the forefront of patient advocacy, education and destigmatisation of mental illness in the country. Its expertise lies in assisting patients and callers throughout South Africa with mental health queries.
7. The Mental Health Information Centre (MHIC)
The Mental Health Information Centre (MHIC) has been in operation since 1995 and forms part of the MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders of the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
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8. SA Federation For Mental Health
The SA Federation for Mental Health is the largest national mental health organisation in South Africa.
9. Cape Mental Health
Cape Mental Health is committed to challenging socially restrictive and discriminatory practices affecting the mental health of all people. Our work is underpinned by a commitment to quality, excellence and professionalism at all times.
10. INALA MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
Together, Changing Minds.Working alongside individuals, groups and communities to co-create wellbeing.
11. FAMSA
Professional counselling services including trauma containment and domestic violence. Marriage preparation. Marriage enrichment. Marriage counselling.
FAMSA is a non-profitable organisation with 28 societies nationwide. FAMSA offers a range of services and is staffed with qualified social workers Our focus is a Healthy functional family life which is a National Priority. Just search and see if there is a FAMSA in your area.
Is mental health care free in South Africa?
There are organisations and private practices that offer free counselling and therapy across the country. These include: Lifeline Western Cape Province and Johannesburg: This organisation offers free 24-hour counselling services over the phone or on WhatsApp. Get to know more about it here in article below.
Influencers and celebrities can help to create more awareness about the importance of having a good mental health state..see below
Michael B. Jordan has publicly confessed about the traumatic experience of going back to his old self after playing the role of Killmonger in the Black Panther movie.
In an interview with Oprah, he talked about the stigma that surrounds mental health issues in the black communities. As a role model to many African Americans, his acknowledgment and support for this issue helped in many ways to create a positive outlook on mental health.
Minnie Dlamini once opened up to her followers on Instagram about a depressive episode that she experienced. Although she was battling sadness, feeling miserable and losing weight, she said that it was important for her to keep working towards her career goals.
Funny guy Trevor Noah opened up in an interview about his experience with depression. At first he didn’t know it was depression. But he recently learnt that it can look like irritability, low mood and sadness, even persistent negative thoughts. Trevor says that learning more about depression helped him manage it better.
Lalla Hiriyama opened up about her battle with panic attacks, anxiety and depression. She encourages people to open up when they’re feeling overwhelmed with emotions and can’t cope with pressure. She believes that sharing your experience with people who are supportive, may help you cope better.
Final Thoughts
Especially with mental health conditions, which are difficult to pinpoint and sometimes impossible to find on a test, a diagnosis can be incredibly validating.
It can help people feel less alone and make it easier to find treatment. Pay attention to your symptoms so that you can share it when asked about it.
It is best to seek professional help if you notice any symptoms of mental illness or have suicidal thoughts.
If you notice symptoms of a mental illness in a loved one, it's best to have an open discussion with them about your concern.
Mental illness can be treated and prevented.
Employers should put in place programmes to promote the mental health of workers, and to ensure that mental health problems are recognised early and treated effectively.
Mental health awareness is an important issue for all educators, who are often the first line of contact for their students.
Education professionals have recognised the impact that a student's mental health has on learning and achievement, and they realise that there's a great deal that can be done to help students with mental health issues. It is up to our government to give them the necessary resources where needed.
Because teens spend most of their day at school, it just makes sense to have mental health awareness and education become part of the curriculum.
When we empower students with knowledge, and encourage dialogue, students will be able to get the help they need.