Sandton residents spare time to address mental health
As the mental health awareness month reaches its third week, the Sandton Chronicle team asked residents why having access to mental health resources is important Online teaser: Mental health affects a third of the country's population today. I truly think that we need to address it more with the youth. We need to create that
THABO MBONANI: It is important to address and acknowledge mental health. There was a point in my life where I was mentally exhausted when I was a kid and, of course, it changed me. I did not know how much an impact it had and I don't want my children to go through it. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula
As the mental health awareness month reaches its third week, the Sandton Chronicle team asked residents why having access to mental health resources is important
LEHLOHONOLO MOHAVE: The access to better health resources is paramount given the fact that we recently went through a pandemic and there is so much depression. We have a lot of young people passing away through it so it [mental health] needs the attention. Photo: Motlatsi MailulaLOIS PETERS: As a single parent with three children, it is important to have a great mental support structure for both my children and myself. There needs to be more awareness in the schools and a presence of counsellors for children. Photo: Motlatsi MailulaRICHARD BALLARD: There are amazing online communities like SMART recovery and others that allow an individual to engage people who are feeling the exact same. There are resourses out there, we just need to be informed and research. Photo: Motlatsi MailulaSIAN ELIOT: There’s not a lot of free support for mental health and I genuinely think if there were more free call lines and people were open to the help, our people and the world would be healed. It’s important to acknowledge your mental health. Photo: Motlatsi MailulaNADINE NICHOLE: Having mental health facilities is vital because everything, all begins with the mind. We all need to help one another, especially, the children. Photo: Motlatsi MailulaTASH VINGOS: Mental health affects a third of the country’s population today. I truly think that we need to address it more with the youth. We need to create that awareness that it’s okay if you are not doing okay. We need to put a stop to the stigma behind mental health. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula