Depression doesn’t sleep, and neither does Sadag

Since mental health problems don’t take a holiday, neither does the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), whose 24/7 helpline continues to function over the festive period, Sandton Chronicle reports.

Sadag is located in Rivonia, Johannesburg, and has been in operation for 24 years offering over 200 support groups and 16 helplines across South Africa.

Press liaison Kayla Phillips said: “Sadag provides telephonic counselling and referrals nationwide. We have the only suicide crisis line in the country. We take part in school outreach, rural community projects and corporate talks.”

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Phillips explained that in South Africa, thousands of people live with mental health problems, and it is estimated that one in three people will, or already do, suffer from mental illness. The helpline receives approximately 400 calls each day of the year.

As the holiday season approaches, the number of calls do not diminish as family pressures and loneliness mounts. Sadag therefore advises that people not be afraid to seek professional help or call their helpline for assistance.

They urge members of the Sandton community to assist them in continuing their much-needed work across the county by donating regularly to the cause. They require funds for the toll-free phone line, postage, call centre, printing and transport costs to deliver educational talks to schools, conduct volunteer training and send out newsletters.

To put your donations into perspective:

• R50 helps them offer free telephonic counselling to five people
• R100 will help post 25 info packs to callers who contact the helpline
• R500 will help print new brochures on depression, bipolar and trauma
• R1 000 will help train additional volunteer counsellors
• R8 000 will cover the cost of a school talk or teen suicide prevention programme
• R12 000 per month will pay for an extra counsellor.

Founder and director of Sadag, Zane Wilson said: “Your support will ensure that every caller who contacts Sadag helplines will receive the counselling and referrals necessary, even if mental health facilities in their area are under-resourced. Please help us help others.”

Details: To find out more about Sadag visit www.sadag.org or call the 24-hour helpline on 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 31393 and Sadag will call you back.

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