Residents share views during mental health awareness month
As May marks mental health awareness month, community members in Randburg shared their views on what mental health means to them, and if they are truly open about mental wellbeing.
Mental health remains a very sensitive topic in South Africa, but with awareness many people are becoming more knowledgeable and open to talk about it.
As mental health awareness is being observed in May, residents express their different views on the topic.
Granny Ramphisa described mental health as being rooted in self-awareness and personal boundaries to avoid losing herself.
“Being secure in myself, understanding myself, what is it that I allow from others and what I will not allow.”
She believes that while awareness is growing, many people still do not take mental health seriously.
“There is some kind of awakening, I guess. People are no longer allowing themselves to be abused, either at work or at home, so there is an awakening when it comes to mental health, but a lot of people do not take it seriously.”
Lesego Mayelo defined mental health as taking care of one’s emotional wellbeing, in order to protect oneself from psychological harm.
“Taking care of your mental health and making sure that nothing really damages you mentally. I don’t think we take mental health seriously, most people do not talk about their mental health issues, they are not open about it so, at some point, we literally bottle up everything. It’s really hard out there.”
Mayelo mentioned that, to avoid wrecking her mental health, she uses music and prayer as her coping mechanisms.
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Kelvin Efe stated that sometimes he wants to confide in someone, but it is hard because most people do not know how to respond to someone in distress.
“I would advise us to go out and see the people who can assist with mental health, get ourselves checked out, and, at the end, I think solutions will come.”
Mental health awareness month is commemorated throughout May to spark conversations about mental wellbeing. Making people aware that it is okay to struggle mentally from time to time, but to also let them know that they are not alone.
Many people still find it difficult to speak openly about such challenges, it starts with awareness and ends with comfortability to speak up.
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