Mental Health has come to the fore in the last few years and has drawn well-deserved attention. Slowly, society is starting to wake up to these issues and understanding that it cannot be ignored. Possibly, even more so now that the global pandemic has affected so many, with Depression, Anxiety and Substance Abuse and Misuse being rife. (These are 3 of the most diagnosed mental health issues in the world – the other two being bipolar disorder and schizophrenia).
Even though mental health has become highlighted as one of the most important pursuits we can focus on, there is often a block to receiving professional treatment. It can be expensive and inaccessible for many.
The good news is that there are many new and innovative outlets that have been created for continued and consistent support.
1. Non-Profits and Crisis Lines
There are many non-profit organisations operating both globally and locally. SADAG or the South African Depression and Anxiety has been providing quality and accessible mental health care for a number of years. They do brilliant work, with outreach programs in communities that aim to educate and debunk misconceptions about mental health. Since Covid, they have also addressed how this healthcare crisis has had a far-reaching impact and are providing tools for people to cope.
There website also contains in-depth resources and a list of emergency crisis lines; for anything from suicide prevention to gender-based violence support. These phone lines are manned by trained counsellors, therapists, social workers and doctors and generally operate 24/7 and are toll-free. If you or a loved one is battling at the moment, it would be good to have these numbers saved on to your phone.
2. Apps and Tech
There has been an explosion of mental healthcare apps. Anything from self-care tools and meditation apps, to trackers where you can document your daily habits on the road to quitting destructive behavior. Here is a fantastic review on some of the best apps out there:
There are even apps where one can have a team of therapists on call. These may require a small monthly fee, however it is heavily reduced from the costs of seeing a professional one-on-one.
3. Support Groups
These are not a new intervention, and if you haven’t yet used this portal, I would highly recommend researching some of the options available to you for your needs. The vast majority are free to attend and they operate all over the country. What has been encouraging, as well, is that during lockdown many of these groups went online in order to maintain social distancing, and are now still offering Zoom sessions in order for anyone, from anywhere, to be able to connect.
So, whether you just need some help to rebalance and recentre yourself, or if you are on the brink of drastic intervention being necessary – there are resources that can assist you.
Even if you feel that there is no one who cares or truly understands in your family, peer group, or amongst your work colleagues – a single phone call can connect you with all the support you need. The apps and support groups are also a great way to maintain and sustain your journey to a better state of mind, and a better life.
