World Mental Health Day: KZN speaks!
East Coast Urban hit the streets of KZN to find out how much the public knows about mental health and if they know anyone who suffers from a mental illness.
It was #WorldMentalHealthDay on the 10th of October 2017. It is estimated that 9.7% of the South African population (4.5 million people) suffer from depression. It is also estimated that depression costs South Africa more than R232-billion a year, according to a London School Of Economics and Political Science 2016 IDEA study.
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Most of the general population are unaware of these shocking statistics, which one can link to a lack of awareness that surrounds mental health in our country.
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Thandolwethu spoke to Thembi Ngcobo, a Social Work Manager at Durban and Coastal Mental Health, about how mental health has historically been linked with a lot of stigmas, stereotypes, cultural beliefs, and assertions that are not necessarily true. Ngcobo also weighed in on the social and cultural understanding of mental health in the black community.
For more info on Durban and Coastal Mental Health you can call: 031 207 2717 or email: [email protected]
LISTEN below as KZN shares what they know about #MentalHealth and if they know of anyone who suffers from a mental illness.