Avoiding self-diagnosis is one of the best ways to deal with mental health. Cassey Chambers is the operations director at South African Depression and Anxiety Group. She says trying to diagnose or treat yourself without professional help could be dangerous and lead to delays.“It’s crucial to get the right treatment from a mental health professional. Medication alone is not enough – there has to be therapy as well and the right guidance from a trained professional,” she says.“I think we have to take it seriously that mental illness is a real illness. It requires real treatment and real diagnosis.”Chambers says that depression and mental illnesses can present in many different ways. The most common symptoms of depression include constant low moods, headaches and back pain. Other symptoms are extreme fatigue, anger or changes in sleep pattern. Recognising these symptoms early can help individuals take the necessary steps toward seeking help before their mental health deteriorates further.Men in SA have a tendency to internalise their struggles— Cassey Chambers, Sadag operations directorChambers says Sadag receives an alarming 3,000 calls per day from individuals who are either contemplating suicide, struggling with depression or facing a range of other mental health challenges.She says the most distressing calls come from teenagers who are contemplating suicide because they feel neglected.Chamber says parents should look out for signs such as their child withdrawing socially, neglecting schoolwork and losing interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as sports.“Our counsellors provide free telephonic counselling and make referrals to hospitals, NGOs, shelters or rehabilitation centres depending on the need,” Chambers says that the average age of young people who reach out to Sadag is between 19 and 30.“Most callers are females but sometimes they’re not even calling for themselves,” She says “they’re calling on behalf of a friend, family member or intimate partner who is struggling.”She said that the fact that sometimes women call for men highlights an important aspect of mental illness in SA – that men tend to internalise and keep their struggles to themselves.“Men don’t talk about their feelings,” She says “they don’t speak up about their struggles until it becomes a crisis. So, when men do call us, their situations are often more serious.”Cassey Chambers SADAG’s Operations Director talks to Sowetan. She discusses their daily operations. Photo Veli Nhlapo (Veli Nhlapo) Sadag is SA’s only suicide helpline and one of the few organisations that offers free mental health counselling.Its mission is to provide support for individuals battling depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, offering hope when it often seems like there is none. At the heart of Sadag’s operations is its team of volunteers, who work from an office in Sandton, Johannesburg. These dedicated individuals answer phone calls, text messages and online messages to offer support to those who are in need. Lebohang Mokoena is one of these volunteers. She is the coordinator for volunteer training and she plays a vital role in making sure that both callers as well as the volunteers get the support they need.“For us it’s like being paramedics for people who are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do,” Mokoena says. “So, our end [goal] is mainly to be the help that is available when needed, so we guide them on what to do.”One call she says still stands out in her mind is one that she received in the year 2020, at the height of Covid-19.“It was a suicide call. The caller had reached a point where she said, ‘I can’t do this anymore’.“I realised that she had called not looking for solutions from us; she just wanted someone to listen, and because she was a professional, there was a stigma [attached to the way she was feeling].“There was an expectation to say, ‘You are a professional; you should know how to deal with your problems,’ and she said, ‘Listen, I just need someone to listen.’“That’s what I did for her, and at the end of the call, she had completely forgotten that she was suicidal.“That call still holds a special space in my heart,” Mental Health Awareness Month is October in SA. The month is aimed at creating awareness about mental health, and Mokoena’s message is that people should be allowed to not feel okay.“Let’s not have that stigma that says you are not allowed to feel depressed because ‘you have a good life’.“That is not the point; the point is to be supportive, and it would be great for the public to break that stigma [that people with ‘a good life’ can’t be depressed] and be there for people who are going through a tough time.”Sadag can be reached by calling their toll free number 0800-567-567. You can also WhatsApp them on 076 882-2775.
2025-10-27 11:52:05
Rising mental health calls spotlight SA youth struggles
