World Mental Health Day: SADAG calls for unity to end mental health stigma

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is urging South Africans to work together to break the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health on World Mental Health Day. 

The group is marking the day under the theme: "Raising awareness and mobilising efforts for mental health support".

SADAG will be embarking on a nationwide campaign to offer support to people across the country. This effort addresses the significant treatment gap in South Africa.

The operations director, Cassey Chambers, highlighted the scale of the challenge, stating that nine out of ten people living with a mental illness do not have access to the treatments they desperately need.

Chambers emphasised the power of collective action.

"Alone, we can do so much but together we can do so much more, and this year’s theme really reminds us that mental health affects every family, every community and by standing together we can break down that stigma and strengthen these partnerships and create hope for millions of South Africans who need it so much," she said.