Sadag
Have you heard about SADAG's new WhatsApp chat line for substance abuse?
The chat line will offer basic counselling, self-help tips and tools for dealing with substance use, as well as referrals for information and help for anyone...
As part of the on-going Teen Suicide Prevention Week, the organisation is trying to raise awareness around the warning signs, and ways for families to heal from the trauma of losing a loved one.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group is helping parents, teachers and communities to navigate difficult conversations around teen depression and suicide prevention.
Around this time, many pupils or parents seek help from organisations like Sadag to assist those feeling disappointed.
For some matriculants, this is an overwhelming time, with many feeling disappointed, stressed or worried about the future.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) said more people had reached out for help since the start of the year.
Sadag said counse;lors had been receiving more calls over the last few days from South Africans, desperate about where to stay, how they're going to feed their families, and how to stay safe.
The much-publicised death of Anele Tembe, fiancé of rapper AKA, who apparently fell from the 10th storey of a hotel in the city centre is also being treated as a suicide.
The pandemic has had a severe impact on South Africans' mental health, many of the calls made to Sadag were from people suffering from anxiety about their finances, job losses and the wellbeing of their children.
It aims to change the narrative around depression, trauma and anxiety - one conversation at a time - with experts from Sadag.
Post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by the pandemic has been singled out, with fears that it will hit many people only in the months to come.
The COVID-19 lockdown has had a severe impact on learners and tertiary students this year and many are still playing catch up to ensure they pass.
Since the start of this year, distressed calls to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group have increased by 63% compared to last year.
The NGO said that since January it had been inundated with calls, messages, and online communication from desperate people seeking help and advice.
According to the findings of a study, 28% of employees were experiencing constant high levels of psychological and physical distress. Women and those working remotely showed higher risks for experiencing physical stress-related symptoms.
Afriforte MD Professor Ina Rothmann said the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an anxiety condition which 46% of employees were at high risk of experiencing.
Sadag's Cassey Chambers said as the pandemic continues to take its toll in South Africa, healthcare workers are most likely to be exposed to infection on a daily basis.
A helpline has been set up, strictly dedicated to help private and public healthcare workers with their mental health and anxiety, especially during the battle against COVID-19 battle but also beyond.