Social workers, researchers and teachers are desperate for more psychosocial support for children and adolescents in South Africa. They say it’s a “no-brainer” that every school needs a social worker. The issue of mental illness among learners has made recent…
High-functioning depression is not a clinical diagnosis and cannot be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is a handbook used by health professionals. The term is a colloquial term which has become increasingly popular…
High-functioning depression is a hidden struggle that often goes unnoticed in the lives of many individuals. While the term “high-functioning” may imply that everything is perfectly fine on the surface, beneath the facade of productivity and normalcy lies a complex…
South Africa has limited – almost non-existent – mental health services for Deaf people. Before a Deaf person can access counselling or therapy, a sign language interpreter must be arranged. This introduces an additional barrier to mental healthcare. “Often the…
Sophie* and Malusi* are in two different industries and have different backgrounds. Sophie (27) is in advertising and Malusi (21) is in retail, but the one thing they have in common is the reason they left their jobs. Their mental…
South Africa has been fighting more than just the Covid pandemic for the past few years. The country has been trying to stem a rising tide of mental health issues and substance abuse. New research has found that more than…
Nomsa Tsingowe’s first thought after doctors told her she could have cancer was to end her life. Tsingowe was just 23 years old and had landed a job as a social worker when she found out she had Osteosarcoma, a…
By Hannah Zhihan Jiang Shay Richard, 16, was not expecting much the first time she used Vive Teens, an AI-driven wellness app. Richard was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2019 when she was 13 years old. Today she is…
By Hannah Zhihan Jiang Healthcare workers (HCWs) say targeted programmes to destigmatise mental illnesses and support mental health among HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic is needed more than ever. They stress the need to debunk the stereotype that HCWs are…
By Hannah Zhihan Jiang Policies without adequate funding will have no impact on improving mental health services in South Africa. Mental health medical practitioners and advocates warn the newly approved National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023-200 will…
The family of a mental health patient who took his own life at Hayani Psychiatric Hospital in Limpopo said all the 28-year-old wanted was to go home, but his condition prevented that. Fhulufhelo Mulaudzi, 28, from Mdabula village outside…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Being diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) comes with social stigma, economic stressors and added burdens stemming from the health system. According to a local TB expert, this can leave people with the disease…
While anyone can be affected by mental health conditions, experts believe that unemployment and not being able to provide financially for their families bring about depression and anxiety for most men. Toby Fricker, Chief of Communications and Partnerships at UNICEF,…
In a country where at least one in three people will experience mental health problems, the cost of obtaining care can be a significant barrier to seeking treatment. The situation is worsened by the public healthcare system not prioritising mental…
Taking a drive down Klipfontein Road in Cape Town can be a herculean task depending on the time of the day. Pedestrians, taxis, Golden Arrow buses and cars all compete for pole position on the road. Hawkers dipping and diving…