ERMELO – Makabongwe Mthetwa and Lindokuhle Mahlangu from Ermelo speak openly about teenage depression.

At the age of 16 the two girls established a support group called the Teen Support Club (TEENSC) to raise awareness about depression.

“It’s a club for teens to come together to discuss daily issues they encounter and how to certain obstacles,” Mthetwa said.

According to Mahlangu the idea to begin the club came after a local teenager committed suicide.

“We went to primary school together and she was a beautiful person inside and out, it deeply saddened me,” Mahlangu said.

A few days before her Mahlangu’s birthday she was scrolling on Facebook saw she could raise funds to donate to charities worldwide.

She thought why not do something locally for teenagers facing depression.

With the support from Mthetwa and Ms Saretha Ferns, youth worker at Ligbron Academy of Technology, the idea grew into a reality.

“Teenage depression is something not many people want to discuss openly.

“When teenagers are depressed people always think its just a phase or that depression is only experienced by adults, which is not true,” Mthetwa said.

She has seen a number of teenagers who tried reaching out for help, but were rejected, something she believes is the root cause of teeanage suicides.

Read Ms Ferns role in the foundation in the Highvelder newspaper.