“Depression and Anxiety rates are on the rise.
The Human Sciences Research Council says up to 33% of South Africans experience depression, while loneliness has spiked to 40%.
The uptick in rates of mental health issues has been attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns, load shedding, and inflation, among other things. The combination of all of these factors has caused many South Africans to struggle mentally.
Organisations for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention say they are receiving more calls from distressed and suicidal people. The number has grown from around 600 to more than 2,000 calls a day.
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The problem is likely being made worse by excessive time spent on smartphones and scrolling through social media.
According to ElectronicsHub, South Africans spend more time on their phones than any other country, with the average person spending more than 500 minutes a day looking at their screen.
Overuse of social media, especially those driven by short-form video, has been shown to negatively affect dopamine regulation, sleep patterns, attention spans, self-esteem, and body image.
The rate of adolescents reporting symptoms of major depression annually increased by 52% from 2005 to 2017, and it grew by 63% in adults within the same time span.
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In spite of this, for the health sector, mental health seems to be something of an afterthought.
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, “Only 50 % of public hospitals offering mental health services have a psychiatrist, and about 30% don’t have a clinical psychologist.”
The Health Department, however, says mental healthcare for all South Africans is and will continue to be a priority.
If you are struggling with mental health issues, contact SADAG at 080 012 1314“
