facebook twitter twitter tiktok   donate

HELPLINE NUMBERS

24-HOUR TOLL-FREE EMERGENCY HELPLINES

Suicide Crisis Helpline
0800 567 567

Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline
0800 12 13 14
SMS 32312

Cipla Mental Health Helpline
0800 456 789
SMS 31393

NPOwer SA Helpline
0800 515 515
SMS 43010

Healthcare Workers Care Network Helpline
0800 21 21 21
SMS 43001

UFS #Fair Kitchens Chefs Helpline
0800 006 333

8AM-8PM TOLL-FREE HELPLINES

Dr Reddy’s Mental Health Helpline
0800 21 22 23

Adcock Ingram Depression & Anxiety Helpline
0800 70 80 90

ADHD Helpline
0800 55 44 33

Pharma Dynamics Police & Trauma Helpline
0800 20 50 26

8AM-8PM SADAG OFFICE NUMBER

SADAG
011 234 4837

WHATSAPP NUMBERS

8AM – 5PM

Cipla Mental Health
076 882 2775

Maybelline BraveTogether
087 163 2030

Ke Moja Substance Abuse
087 163 2025

Have Hope Chat Line
087 163 2050

FOUNDER ZANE WILSON

Contact Founder: Zane@sadag.org

Click Here

UNIVERSITY LINES

student shaming

EMERGENCY Contact Numbers for Students in South Africa - Click here

REQUEST A CALLBACK

counsellor button

Request a Callback from a Counsellor
Click here

SUPPORT GROUPS

Website_Button.png

SADAG has over 160 free Support Groups. To find out more about joining or starting a Support Group click here.

Mental Health Calendar 2024

2023 Mental Health Calendar

To view our Mental Health Calendar
click here

QUESTIONNAIRES

questionnaire infographic

Do You want to check your Mental Health?

Click here for questionnaires

Sadag launches #LetsTalkBipolar campaign to debunk myths around this mental disorder

As Bipolar Awareness Day approaches on Sunday May 26, it is important to talk about and beat this important mental health issue.

US singer and songwriter Bebe Rexha recently revealed that she has bipolar disorder.

“For the longest time, I didn’t understand why I felt so sick,” Rexha tweeted.

“Why I felt lows that made me not want to leave my house or be around people and why I felt highs that wouldn’t let me sleep, wouldn’t let me stop working or creating music. Now I know why.”

She then went on to say “I’m bipolar and I’m not ashamed anymore.”

Other famous faces who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, includes Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato, Mel Gibson, Russel Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jean-Claude van Damme to name a few.

For Bipolar Awareness Day, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) are launching #LetsTalkBipolar campaign to debunk the myths around bipolar disorder, encourage people to seek help and join free support groups in their area.

It notes that bipolar disorder affects up to 1% of the population in SA – which sounds like a low number, but when you take in consideration that there are more than 56 million people in SA, 1% is a large number.

People living with bipolar disorder have extreme mood swings, from a high that feels like you are on top of the world, to a very deep depression, that impacts on their daily functioning, including work, home and relationships.

Bipolar disorder is more than just mood swings. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of misinformation about bipolar disorder, especially the stigma which prevents a lot of people from seeking help or disclosing their diagnosis.

Therefore Sadag will be creating awareness, sharing tips, tools and free resources for people living with bipolar disorder, as well as loved ones and family members via Sadag’s Twitter handle, @TheSADAG, and Facebook page – The South African Depression and Anxiety Group.

Sadag will also be launching an online bipolar survey to gather more data and better understand the challenges and treatments that people living with bipolar disorder experience.

This research will help Sadag create better support programmes, information and advocate for better patient treatment in SA.

To access the survey, go to www.sadag.org or follow our social media platforms. The final research report will be published at the end of June 2019.

To learn more about bipolar disorder and how to manage symptoms, understand treatment, avoid triggers and preventing relapse, Sadag is hosting a #FacebookFriday FREE online Q&A on bipolar disorder with expert psychiatrists Dr Lavinia Lumu and Dr Carina Marsay on Friday May 24 at 1pm and 7pm.

Some of Sadag’s support groups will be hosting special meetings in the next couple of weeks with expert speakers talking about key issues, such as medication FAQs, managing bipolar disorder, and support for the family members, etc.

For more information about upcoming support group talks, please visit www.sadag.org or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

It is very important for Sadag to understand how to help patients and families more in order to encourage more people to get help and break the stigma attached to bipolar disorder.

“On days like these we often share statistics and even new campaigns but this year it all about you! It’s about lending a hand to a family member, neighbour, friend or even a stranger that you think is suffering with bipolar disorder.”

Sadag has various support groups throughout Port Elizabeth which hold weekly meetings.

These groups support people living with mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, substance abuse and more.

To join a support group in your area, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are worried about a friend, family member or loved who may be struggling to cope and in need of support, you can contact a counsellor at Sadag on our various toll-free helplines for free telephone counselling, information and referrals on 0800-456-789 or 0800-212-223, or visit www.sadag.org.

Article published by Herald Live- https://www.heraldlive.co.za/lifestyle/leisure/2019-05-21-lets-talk-about-being-sad/

Our Partners