According to a brochure from the South African Depression and Anxiety group, 20 percent of the South African population may suffer from depression. This statistic includes 2 in 100 children, with females twice as likely to have the disorder as males.
Additionally, women in South Africa are three times as likely to suffer depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression as women in higher-income countries.
A World Health Organization (WHO) fact file states that most South Africans attribute mental health disorders more to stress or a lack of willpower than to underlying biological factors. Contrary to expectations, the stigma against mental health treatment is highest in urban areas and among people with higher levels of education.
Western industrialized countries have had online mental health services available for some time. Now, TherapyRoom, home to Samuel Waumsley Clinical Psychologists, allows patients to book 50-minute online psychotherapy sessions over Skype. All of the therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that online therapy for depression was just as effective as face-to-face therapy. In fact, three months after therapy was discontinued, online therapy patients had better results than in-person therapy patients.
Some suggest that online therapy fosters more self-responsibility, which gives patients a sense of self-efficacy when dealing with negative thoughts and behaviors. However, the study also found that online therapy participants were more likely to drop out than in-person participants.
Online therapy may help patients to overcome some of the stigma associated with mental health treatment. It also helps patients in more rural areas to receive treatment without traveling to a large city.
For South Africans who can't afford TherapyRoom, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group can offer support and resources. South Africans can also call the Lifeline helpline at 0861 322 322.
Edited by
Alisen Downey
