Riky Rick’s death has sparked a conversation about mental health on social media, with the public sharing their struggles to break stigmas about anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Data presented by the South African College of Applied Psychology suggest that one in six South Africans suffers from anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder, 40% of South Africans living with HIV have a comorbid mental disorder, 41% of pregnant women are depressed, about 60% of South Africans could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
What is mental health?
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how people think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how people handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Throughout your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, family history of mental health problems.
Mental health problems are common, but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Signs of mental illness
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviours can be an early warning sign of a problem:
Eating or sleeping too much or too little
Pulling away from people and usual activities
Having low or no energy
Feeling numb or like nothing matters
Having unexplained aches and pains
Feeling helpless or hopeless
Smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual
Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
Yelling or fighting with family and friends
Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
Thinking of harming yourself or others
Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Mental Illness does not discriminate against age, race, gender, socio-economic status or religion. “We still have a long way to go to break down the stigma and improve our mental health treatment and care in South Africa, we owe it to everyone who feels alone, or isolated, or ashamed of their mental illness. We owe it to families who are impacted and don’t know how to get help or support. And we owe it to our most vulnerable group of people who are not able to speak for themselves and deserve better care and treatment today and every day,” says Cassey Chambers, Director of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) 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.
Checking your mental health
To check your mental health, complete any of the questionnaires relatable to you from the below list:
- If you think you may have Depression take this Self-rating questionnaire and discuss the Findings with your Mental Health expert. Click here.
- If you think you have Bipolar Disorder take this self-rating questionnaire and discuss the findings with your mental health expert. Click here.
- If you think you may have PTSD take this Self-rating questionnaire and discuss the Findings with your Mental Health expert. Click here.
- If you think you may have Panic & Anxiety take this Self-rating questionnaire and discuss the Findings with your Mental Health expert. Click here
- If you think you may have Postnatal Depression take this Self-rating questionnaire and discuss the Findings with your Mental Health expert. Click here
- If you think you may have ADHD take this Self-rating questionnaire and discuss the Findings with your Mental Health expert. Click here
You can also speak to a professional for free on the following contact details:
Chat online with a counsellor 7 days a week from 9 am – 4 pm via the Cipla Whatsapp Chat Line 076 882 2775.
SMS 31393 or 32312 and a counsellor will call you back – available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
SADAG Helplines providing free telephonic counselling, information, referrals and resources 7 days a week, 24 hours a day – call 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 456 789
Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567.
