My Wave: Mental health in spotlight this month

THERE is always a lot happening in October.

The countries most publicised music festivals like In The City and Rocking the Daisies take place. Matrics say goodbye to their respective schools to prepare for final. It is breast cancer awareness month and something just as important, Mental Health awareness month.

Mental health is something that not only affects the youth, but also older generations who probably weren’t taught the complexities on mental health on social media and other walks of life. Although I feel we shouldn’t isolate mental health awareness to one month, it’s something we should make others constantly aware of.

It’s a crisis, especially if The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) states that nine percent of all teenage deaths are due to suicide and that only car accidents and homicide account for more deaths than suicide in youths in the age bracket of 15-24. Which is a very alarming assessment.

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Mental Health awareness month shouldn’t be limited to social media discourse. There should be some active groundwork such as introducing it into the Life Orientation curriculum which would be brilliant.

Another thing young people should take note of is regularly checking up on yourself as well as friends and family who suffer from a wide-range of mental illnesses. As difficult as it may be, ask for help because no amount of stress is worth your health.

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Vocabulary is also important when talking about mental health awareness month. Refrain from using ableist language to describe basic things or events.

Using ableist words like “crazy” or “insane” can offend people who are struggling with mental health and have been called those words in a derogatory manner. Ableist language can devalue people with mental disabilities.

One thing that has impact is social media users being brave enough to share their struggles with mental health on various platforms.

Other users need to be empathetic and understand that it isn’t a trend. Users that share their struggles need our everlasting support.

Lethu: I think Mental Health Awareness month would be great if it really helped bring awareness. I think people don’t take mental health seriously so it becomes “one of those things.” We definitely aren’t educated enough about mental health and I think there’s an attitude of not being interested in learning either way. Which is unfortunate.”

Brandon: Millennials have found themselves in turmoil with the worlds silent killers – depression, anxiety and insomnia. Being a generation with such a bright future, the plight of mental health issues has dimmed things down, including our ambitions, self-esteem, confidence and the undying light we grew up having. We want to revolutionise, yet we carry a burden of ourselves and of the world. It’s frightening seeing so many young people suffer silently, but we will heal, we will get better.

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