Media Articles

National Pregnancy Week: 3–7 February 2026   Pregnancy is often expected to be a joyful time, yet for many women it is filled with fear, sadness, anxiety or emotional distress.    During National Pregnancy Week (3-7 February) , the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is urging pregnant women to take depression and anxiety seriously and not to stop psychiatric medication without medical advice.   In South Africa,  between 16% and 50% of women experience depression o

November - Responsible Gambling Month  As a nation of sports fans, South Africans have rapidly embraced the global boom in sports betting, but the potential rewards may be outweighed by its risks to mental health, including depression, substance abuse, addiction and increased risks of suicide and domestic violence. In its 2024/25 annual [i]  report, the National Gambling Board (NGB) highlighted a 623% increase in calls to the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) tol

One member of the SA Police Service dies by suicide every week on average, highlighting the mental health toll on South Africa’s overworked and under-resourced first responders. Fifty-four SAPS members took their own lives in the 2024/25 reporting period, a rising trend which has seen 300 police suicides reported in the past seven years. Police members are not alone. South African paramedics and ambulance personnel, emergency care nurses and doctors, firefighters and rescuers