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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

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UNIVERSITY LINES

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EMERGENCY Contact Numbers for Students in South Africa - Click here

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SUPPORT GROUPS

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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
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QUESTIONNAIRES

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Do You want to check your Mental Health?

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Over the past decade, mental illness has gradually become a topic that is gaining more and more attention. Due to the efforts of non-profit organizations and consumer advocacy groups, mental illness is finally being viewed as the tragic and costly burden that it is. The World Health Organization recently placed an emphasis on mental health, with health being defined as: “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, endorsed by all WHO’s 191 member states.

Although, according to WHO, mental illness is still an undefined and hidden burden. The undefined burden refers to the economic and social burden for families, communities and countries. Although obviously substantial, WHO states that this burden has not been efficiently measured.

Mental illnesses affect the functioning and thinking processes of the individual, greatly diminishing their role and productivity in the community. In addition, because mental illnesses are so disabling and last for many years, they take a tremendous toll on the emotional and socio-economic capabilities of relatives who care for the patient, especially when the health system is unable to offer treatment and support at an early stage.

Some of the social and economic costs to countries include:

· Lost production from premature deaths caused by suicide (generally equivalent to, and in some countries greater, than deaths from road traffic accidents)

· Lost production from people with mental illness who are unable to work, in the short, medium and long term

· Lost productivity from family members caring for the mentally ill person

· Lost productivity from people being ill at work

· Cost of accidents by people who are psychologically disturbed, especially dangerous in people like train drivers, airline pilots and factory workers

· Supporting dependents of the mentally ill person

· Direct and indirect financial costs for families caring for the mentally ill person

· Unemployment, alienation, and crime in young people whose childhood problems e.g. depression, behaviour disorder, were not sufficiently well addressed for them to benefit fully from the education available

· Poor cognitive development of children of mentally ill parents

· Emotional burden and diminished quality of life for family members

The stigma attached to these disorders has exacerbated these problems. Rejection by friends, family and employers makes feelings of depression and loneliness worse for mentally ill people and they are often denied participation in family life, a normal social life and productive employment. This rejection also affects the family and caretakers of the mentally ill person and leads to isolation and humiliation.

The myths, misconceptions and negative stereotypes about mental illness has a detrimental effect on the mentally ill person’s recovery, on their access to services and the type and level of support they receive in the community.

The human rights of mentally ill people are therefore more vulnerable. In South Africa, people with mental illness have their rights and freedoms violated on a daily basis.

Organizations like the Depression and Anxiety Support Group fight these violations and attempt to provide the necessary support for people with mental illness and their families. If you feel you or someone you know may be suffering from a mental illness, contact the Depression and Anxiety Support Group.

Through groups like these and by openly talking about mental illness, South Africa may be able to overcome the immense social burden caused by mental illness. By countering the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding these illnesses, and providing support and treatment services that enable all people suffering from mental illness to fully participate in all aspects of community life, we may also begin to counter the immense cost these illnesses entail.

* taken from WHO’s Fact Sheet No. 218 (Nov 2001)

 

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