How ‘aweh’ are you of mental health awareness?

According to experts, mental health issues in South Africa are on the rise.

With mental health awareness lacking, Sandton resident Henry Cock is on a mission to get the word out there. With overall health in mind, Cock intends on running 2 800km from Kosi Bay in South Africa to Vioolsdrift on the border with Namibia, to raise funds and create awareness about mental health in South Africa.

His campaign, Mentally Aweh was inspired by the fact that too many people suffered from mental illness in silence. He said South Africans in general were incredibly inspirational.

“No matter what happens, we have the ability to band together and bring each other up. I wanted to make a play on the word ‘aware’ in a uniquely South African context.”

Partnering up with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, his goal is to raise R4 million for the organisation, all while breaking a Guinness World record.

“I am going to run the most consecutive half marathons in a row – in 133 days. The current record is 75 consecutive marathons for men and 100 for women which is currently held by inspirational South African woman, Trish Eksteen.”

Cock said it would be easy to reach his target if every South African donated just 10c to the cause, but that wouldn’t be possible.

“I’m asking 8 000 people to donate 10c for every kilometre I run in 2021, including my training. How much do I train? 300km a month. This works out to one coffee per month, per person. If I get just 10c from 8 000 people for every kilometre I do, we will raise R4.8 million by the end of the year to help people who don’t believe help exists for them.”

He mentioned that almost every person in South Africa suffered with mental health or knew somebody who did.

“If you speak to anyone, they will without a doubt have had someone close to them affected by mental illness in some way. I myself went through a terrible patch last year when Covid-19 hit. I think this pandemic has brought mental health to the forefront of people’s concerns and it’s justified. Too many people brush it off as something that people must get over.”

He added that mental health was often misunderstood and maligned.

“The cost of accessing help is also prohibitively expensive, but it affects almost one in five people globally. I’m hoping to raise awareness for those who suffer and take away the stigma attached to it.”

Having mental health issues was not something to be ashamed of said Cock. “There shouldn’t be a stigma around mental health, if we were all just a little more aware, kinder and supportive to people, we’d notice that it really helps.”

If you would like to get involved or donate visit: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/mentally-aweh.
Donations can also be made through snapscan.
Follow Cock’s journey on Instagram @cock.henry.