Mental Health Awareness Moves Into the Spotlight — Why South Africa Can’t Afford to Ignore It
Diana Kinyanjui 
Mental health is no longer a private struggle — it’s a national issue with far-reaching social and economic consequences. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), one in three South Africans will suffer from a mental health challenge at some point in their lives, yet fewer than 10% of patients have access to adequate treatment. The cost of ignoring these challenges is not just emotional — it is financial. A 2022 report by the World Health Organization estimated that depression and anxiety cost the global economy the equivalent of R18 trillion annually in lost productivity.
In South Africa, where unemployment remains stubbornly high and the pressure on households continues to grow, the burden of untreated mental health conditions risks creating a cycle of poverty, absenteeism, and broken families. The issue is no longer confined to health departments and NGOs — it is a conversation that must involve business, government, and communities alike.
This is the backdrop against which the Phoenix Support Centre will host its Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Awareness Event on 10 October 2025 at the Bethal Town Hall in Mpumalanga. Organisers say the event will not only provide tools for individuals but also spark much-needed discussions on the role of mental health in education, the workplace, and community resilience.
Martha Shongwe, founder of the Phoenix Support Centre, explained: “The reality is that untreated depression and trauma directly impact productivity, learning outcomes, and family stability. We see people every day who have lost jobs because of mental illness, or young people who cannot continue with studies because they have no support. This event is a call to treat mental health as an urgent social and economic issue.”
Beyond awareness talks, the programme will feature local psychologists, social workers, and youth leaders engaging communities on coping mechanisms, suicide prevention strategies, and breaking the stigma surrounding therapy. The event will also create opportunities for families and individuals to connect with service providers in real time.
Tickets are priced at R350, which includes meals and access to all sessions. Proceeds will go towards sustaining the Phoenix Support Centre’s ongoing counselling and outreach initiatives in the province.
As South Africa joins the global community in marking World Mental Health Day, this event signals a growing recognition that mental health is not a luxury — it is a necessity. And while government policies like the National Mental Health Policy Framework aim to increase access to care, progress will only come if communities themselves take the lead in breaking silence and building support systems.
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