October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the experts look at mental health in the workplace; the reality is that we spend a large amount of our time at work, so understanding the good and bad is essential!

South Africa (17 October 2024) – Work can be a significant source of stress and poor mental health, but “good” work can contribute to better mental health, and the workplace itself can play a positive role in improving access to treatment.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks depression as the leading cause^[i] of disability and ill-health worldwide. A 2016 study found that lost productivity due to depression-related absenteeism and presenteeism costs the South African economy an estimated R232 billion a year, or 5.7% of GDP (in 2016 terms), ^[ii] while the WHO estimates the global economic cost of untreated depression at US$1 trillion annually.^[iii]

With at least one in three South African adults^[iv] likely to experience a mental health disorder in their lifetimes and employed people spending the bulk of their waking hours at work, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) has highlighted that the workplace plays a key role in mental health.

“Good, meaningful work and mentally healthy work environments are beneficial for protecting mental health as well as aiding recovery from mental illness. Prioritising mental health in the workplace not only improves individual employees’ wellbeing but supports organisational performance and economic growth,” SASOP member and psychiatrist Dr Siki Gwanya-Mdletye said.

Speaking ahead of World Mental Health Day which was hosted on 10 October, Dr Gwanya-Mdletye said that strengthening the mental health aspect of workplace health services could also offer an innovative solution to the country’s large mental health treatment gap, which sees 75% of those with common mental health disorders^[v] such as depression and anxiety going untreated.

The theme of World Mental Health Day this year was “It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”.

“The workplace can contribute both positively and negatively to mental health. Work can provide not only a livelihood but meaning, purpose and satisfaction, while unhealthy organisational cultures or exposure to trauma in the workplace can worsen mental illness for vulnerable individuals.

“Given South Africa’s high prevalence of mental illness and the substantial treatment gap, the workplace can also provide a good location for structured interventions to supplement the under-resourced community level of mental healthcare.

“Such interventions need to go beyond feel-good pamper sessions and spa-days at work, as lovely as these may be,” she said.

Dr Gwanya-Mdletye said that a greater mental health focus in employee wellness programmes and workplace-based healthcare services held a number of benefits, starting with early detection and referral for treatment.

Early referral for primary-level treatment had been shown to shorten the duration of illness and improve long-term health outcomes, as well as reducing the need for costly specialist care or hospitalisation, she said.

Locating mental health interventions in the workplace also has the benefit of consistency in treatment, since workers go to work most days of the week and workplace health services would be an “ally in treatment adherence”, as lack of adherence to treatment is a major challenge in successfully treating mental illness.

“This approach also retains the mental health benefits of engaging in meaningful work, and enables those with a mental health condition to continue earning a living, remaining a productive member of society and maintaining independence and dignity.

“Given South Africa’s high unemployment rate, there are significant limitations in a unilateral focus on employees. Ideally, responsible work-based mental health interventions should broaden their reach at the very least to the families of the employees they serve, and possibly to their immediate communities if resources allow,” she said.

REFERENCES

[i] World Health Organisation (WHO). 2017. “Depression: let’s talk” says WHO, as depression tops list of causes of ill health. https://www.who.int/news/item/30-03-2017–depression-let-s-talk-says-who-as-depression-tops-list-of-causes-of-ill-health

[ii] Evans-Lacko, S., Knapp, M. Global patterns of workplace productivity for people with depression: absenteeism and presenteeism costs across eight diverse countries. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 1525–1537 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1278-4

[iii] WHO. Mental health at work. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/mental-health-in-the-workplace

[iv] Herman AA, et al. The South African Stress and Health (SASH) Study: 12-month and lifetime prevalence of common mental disorders. SA Medical Journal, Vol 99, No. 5. 2009. http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/3374

[v] Sorsdahl K, et al. A reflection of the current status of the mental healthcare system in South Africa. SSM – Mental Health, Volume 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100247

Source: Supplied

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In a world that often feels overwhelming and isolating, Poetry Africa offers a beacon of light through its festival that emphasises the transformative role that creative expression can play in fostering emotional and spiritual recovery.

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (04 October 2024) – Words are so powerful. They have the ability to inspire and build a person up and quite drastically do the opposite, too.

Choosing to focus on the beauty and healing power of words, this Mental Health Awareness Month is the Poetry Africa Festival under the theme: Somehow We Survive.

Offering much-needed support in a world grappling with mental health challenges, this year’s festival highlights the connection between the healing powers of poetry and mental well-being.

The empowering event will run from 3 to 12 October 2024 in both Durban and Johannesburg, with online access for a global audience.

Now in its 28th edition, Poetry Africa, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, brings together a diverse lineup of local and international poets whose work resonates with themes of survival, mental health, and spiritual healing.

The festival acknowledges the challenges of mental health issues across societies and the role that creative expression can play in fostering emotional and spiritual recovery.

“Art, and poetry in particular, has always served as a mirror to our innermost emotions, offering solace and understanding in ways that few other mediums can.

“At a time when the world is grappling with a mental health crisis, this festival wants to offer a much-needed space for reflection, healing, and collective hope,” said festival curator Siphindile Hlongwa.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, Poetry Africa includes a special online session titled “Healers Pot” on 9 October, focusing on poetry’s therapeutic and spiritual significance.

Hosted by renowned poet Vangile Gantsho, known for her work on poetry as a medium of healing, gantsho has spent years exploring the intersection between creativity and mental well-being.

The panel will feature celebrated poets Busisiwe Mahlangu, Siza Nkosi, Luleka Mhlanzi, Pralini Naidoo, and Malika Ndlovu, all of whom have woven their mental health journeys into their poetic expressions.

Poetry Africa’s programme, including performances, panel discussions, and workshops, provides poets and audiences alike the opportunity to connect deeply with these themes, encouraging dialogues around mental health, resilience, and healing.

From poetic tributes to South African legends like Keorapetse Kgositsile and Dennis Brutus to dynamic spoken word performances by artists from across the globe, Poetry Africa continues its mission to be a catalyst for social change through artistic expression.

With poets hailing from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the USA, and beyond, the festival unites voices from around the world, reflecting the universal need for healing and connection.

Poetry Africa will also feature the annual Slam Poetry Competition, where young voices take the stage to share their stories of survival, identity, and empowerment.

The competition has become a highlight of the festival, offering participants the opportunity to compete for the title of South Africa’s Slam Champion and represent the country on the world stage.

This high-energy event is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to engage and inspire, especially among the youth, who often use it to grapple with and articulate their mental health journey.

Audiences can attend Poetry Africa 2024 both in person and online.

For the full programme and ticket details, visit the Poetry Africa website at http://poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za or follow the festival on social media.

Sources: Poetry Africa

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As a kaleidoscope of colours takes to the skies of Cape Town in kite form, so too will hope for mental health awareness:

Cape Town, South Africa (03 October 2024) — The Cape Town International Kite Festival is far more than a celebration of kites. For many, it’s an occasion of openness, not unlike the skies where the kites get to roam. It’s also a gathering of strength and rising above that which attempts to hold us down, just like the kite’s fight against its string. In the world of mental health movements, the Kite Festival continues to play a big role, one that’s been cultivated for over 30 years.

Back in 1994, Cape Mental Health (an organisation that provides mental health services to vulnerable children and adults in disadvantaged communities) decided on the Cape Town Kite Festival as its flagship event. Over the years, it has created a freeing space for artists, ambassadors, kiters, volunteers and the mental health care community.

Because October is Mental Health Awareness Month, the festival coincides with the most important time for mental health advocacy across the world.

Cape Mental Health is a champion of advocacy and support, aiming to provide interventions that restore hope, build resilience, and empower individuals and communities.

The theme for this year’s Cape Town Kite Festival is aptly ‘Hope on a String’, and each kite string tug reminds us of the inner strength and resilience within us all.

Kite Festival Run Down:

23 October: Set to be held at Heideveld Sports Field on the Cape Flats, children with intellectual disabilities from CMH’s Special Education & Care Centres, along with Grade R learners and preschoolers from Heideveld, will all join forces for the Community Fly Day.

26 October: The EduKite Competition will see primary schools enjoy a kite-making and kite-decorating competition, with the prize-giving ceremony set to be held at Curro Century City, supporting mental health awareness.

27 October: Melkbosstrand Beach will ignite with colour and kiters as local and international professionals set their kites to the sky for the Pop-Up Fly Event.

How to Support #HopeOnAString for Cape Mental Health

Cape Mental Health has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support its imperative work. Any donations will make a significant impact in providing mental health support and building resilience in those who most need it, and several celebrities, including Majozi and Kim Syster, have rallied behind the cause!

You can support the campaign here.

Sources: Supplied

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Through free workshops and unwavering support, Phoenix Core offers a lifeline to those lost in the storm of mental health challenges.

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 August 2024) – For a long time, mental healthcare was overlooked and largely misunderstood in many communities. But thanks to organisations like Phoenix Core, people no longer have to carry heavy burdens alone.

The compassionate members of Phoenix Core are all about love, fostering open conversations and reducing stigma through mental health awareness.

Phoenix Core is an impactful non-profit organisation supporting individuals with mental health challenges. The organisation empowers people to seek help without fear, creating a more supportive and understanding society.

The significant initiative is run by a selfless group of people who have dedicated their time to offering free self-development workshops to aid individuals dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anger management, anxiety, or just seeking direction/purpose in life.

For founders Gaby, Chris, Kathy and Nick Fischer, helping people through life’s myriad of challenges by giving them unconditional love and support is their calling.

“When we are asked why we do what we do, we have a one-word answer, and that is love. The world needs a lot more love out there and if we can assist people to have more love for themselves, just imagine how much love they might be able to give everyone else.

“It’s like throwing a stone into a pond, and you get ripples, but imagine throwing many stones into that same pond, what comes back is waves! Together what we are doing is making the world a better place, even if that means helping one person at a time,” explains Chris Fischer, Director of Phoenix Core.

Operating without external funding, Phoenix Core relies solely on its own resources to sustain these vital workshops.

The organisation appeals to the greater public for donations of:

• Sugar,
• Water,
• Coffee,
• Tea and rooibos,
• Biscuits,
• Long-life milk,
• Detergents,
• Toilet paper,
• A first-aid kit
• and stationery such as books, pens and markers.

These items will go a long way in hosting its workshops that continue to help many people in need of a shoulder to lean on.

To get in touch with Phoenix Core, email chris@phoenixcore.org or info@phoenixcore.org.

Sources: Phoenix Core

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The focus of World Mental Health Day and Awareness Month at SOS Children’s Villages is how it is a human right; this is how they work to support children’s mental well-being to make a difference:

South Africa (16 October 2023) – As we continue to highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, SOS Children’s Village shares how mental health is a human right.

The right to health is a fundamental human right, also recognised by the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989/ General Assembly resolution 44/25. As health cannot exist without mental health, this year’s theme is: Mental health is a universal human right. Ignoring this component has tremendous consequences on individuals and society.

For children, mental well-being plays a key role in their development and learning abilities. Strong mental health positively affects a child’s quality of life in the long term, strengthens resilience and has overall positive impacts on communities.

Adverse experiences leading to mental health issues have a major impact on a child’s development if not addressed. Similarly, the mental well-being of parents and caregivers is crucial for children.

Children who have lost or who risk losing parental care are more vulnerable to mental health and psychosocial difficulties than their peers. Caregivers and other professionals who work directly with children, adolescents, and families at risk may experience their own mental health pressures, also due to working conditions / being overworked and insufficient resources.

Established in 1982, SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa provides alternative care and child protection services to over 700 children in its villages, and over 4500 children in its Family Strengthening Programme (FSP). The FSP interventions for children are aimed at equipping families to better be able to care for their children so that complete family breakdown is avoided; so that no children have to become orphans.

The programmes aimed at children aim to equip each child to grow into a self-reliant adult, who can become a contributing member of society. In the care of SOS Children’s Villages and at every stage of their lives, the children are afforded psychological, emotional, psycho-social care, fully supported by professional social workers and a team of other childcare experts available to the children 24/7.

“Children without adequate parental care have often experienced high levels of stress, traumatic events and repeated adverse childhood experiences, including the separation from their family. Child-family separation impacts their ability to trust others and build relationships, and has serious consequences for a child’s personality development, including low self-esteem, attachment disorders and anxiety. Moreover, mental health pressure is further exacerbated for young care leavers due to being left with little or no support when transitioning to independent living”, says Lebo Phaweni: Head of Communications at SOS Children’s Villages.

It means that adequate support and services are needed for young people who leave alternative care and have no support from their parents. This includes financial support, access to housing and employment opportunities, all of which supports their mental well-being and thus strengthens their ability to build their lives living independently.

The economic cost of mental health problems is vast, especially for developing nations.

SOS Children’s Villages calls for more investment in mental health programmes for vulnerable children and caregivers across South Africa. To donate and support the work of the organisation towards mental health, psycho-social support and other health initiatives, go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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The mental health campaign that brought Riky Rick’s voice back to life may be award-winning, but it did far more than scoop gold with an important message:

Johannesburg, South Africa (10 October 2023) — Johannesburg-based advertising and communication specialists TBWA\Hunt Lascaris may have won four gold awards for their groundbreaking mental health campaign ‘Stronger’ at the Loeries Awards, but the campaign that brought the voice of the late hip hop singer, Riky Rick, back to life did a lot more than just win gold.

‘Stronger’ as a campaign and song was created with a more important goal in mind: to raise awareness of mental health issues, especially for the male youth of South Africa through a voice widely respected across the country and world.

As TBWA/Hunt Lascaris chief creative officer, Carl Willoughby indicates, it was a call of encouragement for those suffering from depression to seek the help they need, especially in a world where outdated narratives like ‘men shouldn’t express their emotional or psychological struggles’ still target many.

“Our aim as an agency was always to raise awareness about mental health and suicide, especially among South African men,” shared Willoughby who added deep gratitude to the family of the late musician who tragically took his own life in February last year, for allowing the song’s release. 

By recreating Riky Rick’s voice and releasing a song posthumously in his honour using artificial intelligence, they were able to reach millions of people with the campaign’s message.

 

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A post shared by Riky Rick Foundation (@rikyrickfoundation)

Using AI to Honour the voice of Riky Rick

One of the most unique features of the campaign is how AI was used to honour the beloved artist. With the permission of the singer’s family, the team at TBWA and Audio Militia used clean, pre-recorded voice clips to train machine-learning tools to learn Riky Rick’s vocals.

Audio Militia CEO Nick Argyros, the song’s technical producer, explained that they used Riky’s last social media posts to write the lyrics of the song.

“It was surreal because he had almost left this song in some of the posts and all we had to do was piece it all together,” he explained. “We really didn’t add anything. All of the words and lyrics used in the song were Riky’s.”

Willoughby said when Riky’s family first listened to the song, they were triggered emotionally. “It was very difficult for them,” he recalled. “As you can imagine, a project of this nature has many layers to work through. At one point, the campaign almost never happened.”

The family agreed to go ahead and “Stronger” was released to coincide with Youth Day on 16 June 2023.

The campaign reached 59 million people in its first two weeks, as well as reach of R9 million in earned PR where all profits from the song are being donated to organisations fighting mental illness, including the free mobile mental wellness app, Panda.

“Mental health is something that touches our industry,” commented Willoughby, “so it made sense for us to do something about it.” He added that his wish is that the song’s message continues to touch listeners and inspire hope. “If we can save one life through this campaign, it would have been worth it.”

The Loeries

TBWA\Hunt Lascaris won four gold Loeries Awards in total for ‘Stronger’: in the digital category for the use of artificial intelligence (AI), in the digital crafts category for the use of technology, for branded content in radio and audio and for the use of technology in radio and audio. Additionally, ‘Stronger’, was also the first AI song to be released in Africa, in collaboration with the Riky Rick Foundation which aims to push activism through art while creating awareness for and around mental health.

The campaign also won a silver Loerie (film, music video), a bronze (integrated campaign) and a craft certificate (film, sound design).

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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