Ntsako raises mental health awareness eKasi
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 17 Million South Africans battle with some form of mental problems, and those are just the recorded statistics.
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 17 Million South Africans battle with some form of mental problems, and those are just the recorded statistics. In many places: townships, slums, and low-income areas, these battles are both won and lost undocumented.
Law student and 2020 White Star Miss Soweto Top 20 Finalist, Ntsako Chauke has embarked on a journey to curb these statistics.
“It’s something that’s not talked about enough,” she said.
“There are many things wrong with society, crime, GBV, substance abuse and it all starts in the brain. I feel like if we could have more of these conversations, especially here in the townships, we could help one another a lot. I’ve always hoped that we could, as a community, get to a place where we can talk openly about things that bother us.”
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It was in this hope that Chauke started her NPO: IBelieveInHer. The aim, she said, was to give people in the townships a platform to speak about mental health.
“For now, we’ve been working kids, who have responded so positively. Despite the name, the focus is not only on young girls, we have young boys too who have opened up to us very impressively. We’re en route to get the Department of Social Development involved as well because they’re the experts. This is a project I am passionate about and will dedicate the rest of my life to,” she said.
Ntsako herself is no stranger to the fight for mental health, she revealed that as a teenager, she struggled with anxiety.
“Around Grade 9 I had problems with anxiety. At that point, I didn’t know much about it. By Grade 10 my mother decided that we should get an expert opinion at Bara Childline. That’s when I learned more. I’m grateful that people around me allowed me to open up and we took it seriously because too often, we downplay these things,” said Chauke.
Today, the aspiring Lawyer’s anxiety is a distant memory as she sets her sights on winning 2020’s edition of White Star Miss Soweto, having already made it into the Top 20. She hopes to go all the way and that her win will help bring a bigger spotlight on mental health in the townships. Previous winners include Basetsana Khumalo and Lerato Kganyago.
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