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HELPLINE NUMBERS

24-HOUR TOLL-FREE EMERGENCY HELPLINES

Suicide Crisis Helpline
0800 567 567

Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline
0800 12 13 14
SMS 32312

Cipla Mental Health Helpline
0800 456 789
SMS 31393

NPOwer SA Helpline
0800 515 515
SMS 43010

Healthcare Workers Care Network Helpline
0800 21 21 21
SMS 43001

UFS #Fair Kitchens Chefs Helpline
0800 006 333

8AM-8PM TOLL-FREE HELPLINES

Dr Reddy’s Mental Health Helpline
0800 21 22 23

Adcock Ingram Depression & Anxiety Helpline
0800 70 80 90

ADHD Helpline
0800 55 44 33

Pharma Dynamics Police & Trauma Helpline
0800 20 50 26

8AM-8PM SADAG OFFICE NUMBER

SADAG
011 234 4837

WHATSAPP NUMBERS

8AM – 5PM

Cipla Mental Health
076 882 2775

Maybelline BraveTogether
087 163 2030

Ke Moja Substance Abuse
087 163 2025

Have Hope Chat Line
087 163 2050

FOUNDER ZANE WILSON

Contact Founder: Zane@sadag.org

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UNIVERSITY LINES

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EMERGENCY Contact Numbers for Students in South Africa - Click here

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SUPPORT GROUPS

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SADAG has over 160 free Support Groups. To find out more about joining or starting a Support Group click here.

Mental Health Calendar 2024

2023 Mental Health Calendar

To view our Mental Health Calendar
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QUESTIONNAIRES

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Do You want to check your Mental Health?

Click here for questionnaires

The families and care-givers of people suffering from one of many mental illnesses are sometimes faced with an extremely daunting task. Besides the pain of watching a loved one suffer, there is often a lot of shame, resentment and guilt. It is often very difficult for families to accept the illness and adjust to the fact that despite all their efforts the condition of their loved one may get worse.

Due to the stigma attached to mental illness, society often makes the task of caring for someone with a mental illness harder. It is a reality that these people and their families encounter discrimination from an apprehensive public, including friends, extended family, employers, medical aids and sometimes even from the medical sector.

Living with and caring for someone with a mental illness is difficult at times and may cause problems within the family. Relationships may be in disarray in the confusion surrounding the mental disorder and it may be necessary to renegotiate emotional relationships. The entire family may experience a sense of loss - the loss of what they had and the loss of what they now may never have, which can lead to a cauldron of emotions like grief, guilt, fear, anger, sadness, hurt and confusion. The intensity of emotion in these difficult stages often brings out a survival -oriented response in many family members, where emotions are shut down, but this inability to talk about feelings may leave people feeling stuck or frozen. It is extremely important to find someone to speak to as if these feelings are not acknowledges they may spill out and cause conflict in a number of relationships, usually those closest to you.

If you are finding it difficult to speak with certain family members because they are still in denial of the illness, allow them to maintain this denial if they need it. Seek out others whom you can talk to. You are not alone. There are a number of support groups where you will be able to share your thoughts and feelings. It is traumatic to care for someone with a mental illness and receiving support and help is essential. The Depression and Anxiety Support Group has a number of support groups around the country, for sufferers and their care-givers, as well as trained telephone counsellors if you need referrals or just to speak to someone who understands. They can be contacted, Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to 5pm, on (011) 783-1474/6.

Fortunately though, after the denial, sadness and anger, eventually comes acceptance. An understanding of what the ill family member is going through brings compassion and empathy. This allows the family to separate the disorder from the person and to continue to love and care for the person, even if they hate the disorder.

This acceptance entails understanding that mental illnesses are like any other medical illness, caused by a number of factors, and part of the fabric of life. Blaming yourself only leads to resentment, as does taking on too much responsibility and giving too much. Sacrificing your needs for the needs of the ill family member is not healthy, as if you do not look after yourself you can't care for another. You are still entitled to your own life journey, as is your loved one.

Maintain your role as child, parent or sibling. You are not a paid mental health professional and the recovery of your loved one is not your sole responsibility. Work together with mental health professionals to ensure your loved one gets the best treatment possible. Don't be scared to ask questions. The more you understand the better. By recognizing the limits of your loved ones capabilities you will learn that this does not mean you can't expect anything from them.

For most care-givers there are also benefits - an increased awareness, sensitivity, receptivity, compassion and maturity and less of a tendency to be judgemental and self-centred. Many learn a lot about themselves as they learn about their family member's disorder and discover their own strength and the importance of caring for their own needs. Ultimately it is a journey, like all others, with ups and downs - those of your loved one, other family members and your own in which it is important to keep your sense of humour and accept help when you need it.

 

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