MHM Magazine

10 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2024 | Issue 4 MHM in my healing journey as well as simply just being able to volunteer. Meeting members down the line and seeing the difference in their lives and how grateful they are to have had a space for healing - Di Kendall, Durban Support Group Leader I feel like I have seen and heard nearly everything possible since being at SADAG. I have heard stories from callers that are at their lowest moments where any hope is deemed impossible, as well as callers that need only an ear to listen to the things that are impacting their day-to-day life. My experiences have been very rewarding in that I have been able to help callers to sometimes just find clarity or have had callers thank me for just being there for them. Sometimes callers have called back to let me know what has worked and what has not worked so that we can try other avenues to bring them some relief in their lives - Bronwyn Allan, SADAG Counsellor & School Outreach Team “Where would many South African psychologists, including me, be without SADAG? As psychologists we owe a lot to SADAG, both before becoming qualified therapists as well as after qualification. SADAG has gone from a small Panic Support Group to the largest Mental Health NGO in South Africa, which gives it clout nowadays when budding therapists are trying to get into psychology master programs. Many a psychologist in South Africa, again including myself, have gained invaluable training and experience working at SADAG.” – Shai Friedland, Psychologist, SADAG Board Member Zane, you may never know the number of lives you have positively impacted, and saved, since having the foresight to create SADAG. As one of them, I thank you and your amazing team and look forward to many more years together as we travel what used to be a pot-holed Mental Health Dirt Track to what is now a well-respected Mental Health Drive – Denise, Swaziland Support Group Leader One of the key drivers of SADAG’s success was Wilson’s ability to keep it going “…on the smell of an oil rag”, according to Berk, who served as the first chairperson of the SADAG board. Many of the skills needed to run a successful company, such as budgeting, networking and strategic thinking, were critical to keeping a nonprofit organisation afloat. He added, “In a way I was a bit naive in the beginning because I didn’t appreciate just how critical those skills were, but Zane had them and that was the enabler. It was her business skills and managerial nous that turned a passion and an idea into a reality. – Prof Michael Berk, Psychiatrist, Australia The privilege of advocating for mental health awareness in schools is the experience not only deepened my understanding of the complexities surrounding mental wellness but also equipped me with the skills to effectively champion this critical cause. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, active listening, and collaboration in creating a safe and supportive environment for mental health discussions. I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of advocacy and the impact it can have on leaners with the hope that it will continue to transform communities - Zodwa Manjezi, SADAG School Outreach Team Thank you so much for all of SADAG’s hard work to make journalism training in South Africa a success. The quality of training is exceptional and has impacted media depictions of mental illnesses in South Africa. All of this would not be possible without your dedication to increasing accurate reporting of mental illnesses and commitment to our program. I deeply appreciate the important, ongoing work of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group. – the late Rosalynn Carter, Carter Center in Washington, USA Having worked with SADAG since 1995 when I was at Wits I quickly learnt that they were able to reach people on all levels and has good resources with key messages that explain Mental Illnesses concisely. SADAG has been doing very well and has shown marked growth as a leading advocacy group through workshops, awareness programmes and media presence. – Prof Solly Rataemane, Psychiatrist MHM | 2024 | Volume 11 | Issue 4 | Reflections, 30 years on… H