You are not alone!

The global COVID-19 pandemic has indeed affected everyone beyond measure and evidently, so, it has affected people mentally. Mental health distress saw a high rise in South Africa during the second wave of Covid-19. A study by the Human Sciences Research Council found that 33% of South Africans were depressed, with 45% feeling fearful and 29% facing loneliness during the first lockdown. 

Since then, mental health has been front and centre of policy frameworks and national strategies. The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also reducing the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.

About 400 million people worldwide suffer from mental or neurological disorders or from psychosocial problems. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living, and enjoy life. On this basis, the promotion, protection, and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout the world.

Facts about mental health: