The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is calling on government to assist with funding for more satellite containers, to help those suffering from mental illnesses in townships across the country.
SADAG has joined the global mental health community in highlighting the urgent need to address suicide prevention under the 2024 theme ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’.
The organisation has been at the forefront of creating awareness and destigmatising mental illness.SADAG founder and director Zane Wilson says they currently have only two satellite containers, which cater for more than 300 000 people each.
“We have started two containers in townships that are doing extremely well, they look after 300 000 people per container, and we have about half a dozen counselors in each but they also go out to the schools, clinics, police stations, whoever needs our help we are there for them. If the government could put in another 10 or 20, they are not expensive, they are about R1 million a year to cover all the costs and salaries to look after so many people.”
Story credit: SABC News
