Remember that you are not alone – Sadag
The festive season may not be all cheer and merry for all but you are not alone, says the South African Depression and Anxiety Group with a reminder that its call centre will be available 24 hours a day for seven days, throughout the festive season, offering much-needed support for those who need it.
While Christmas is traditionally a time for tinsel and twinkling lights, the festive season can be filled with loneliness, reminders of lost loved ones and unimaginable grief.
This holiday season the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) would like to remind the community that they are not alone.
“While there are many articles that cover coping with grief during the holidays and provide oversimplified tips on what to do to feel better, at Sadag we understand that this can be a lot easier said than done.
“And that most of the time, what we are really in need of is a listening ear to provide a space where we are allowed to not be okay,” said call centre manager Tracy Feinstein.Sadag’s counsellors will be available 24 hours a day for seven days, throughout the festive season, offering support for those who need it.
Clinical psychologist Liane Lurie noted that it is important to understand that grief can take on many different shapes and forms including the loss of loved ones, relationships, jobs and financial insecurity and that the festive season can be a bitter reminder of this loss.
“It’s important to realise that grief isn’t something that leaves us after we’ve gone through the five stages of mourning. Grief is something that we learn to carry with us and the lenses through which we view the event or loss of a person change at different points of our lives.
“It’s not about getting over your grief or putting on a mask and pretending that you’re okay just for the benefit of others over the festive season. Grief needs to be felt. If it is not worked through and not processed, it’ll manifest in other areas of our lives that may cause difficulties in future relationships and more,” said Lurie.
Feinstein added that while the group does not see a spike or increase in the number of calls that Sadag receives over the holidays, the reason for people calling in for help is due to loneliness, grief, loss, stress, depression and trauma.
“It is critical that Sadag is open and providing free telephone counselling throughout the holiday season – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Christmas Day and New Year’s – for anyone who is in need of help, crisis intervention and support.”
Even with load-shedding and its impact on networks and signal, anyone who wants to reach out to a counsellor can SMS 31393, WhatsApp 087 163 2030 or fill in a contact form on the Sadag website on www.sadag.org and a counsellor will get back to you.
