Today, 10 October, marks
World Mental Health Day – and in South Africa, it sits squarely amid
Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, the
South African Federation for Mental Health is calling special attention to the theme “Addressing violence as a significant challenge to mental health in South Africa.” This localisation is not merely rhetorical: it is a bold recognition that violence, in its many forms, is one of the clearest and most urgent threats to the psychological well‑being of all the people who live in South Africa.
Why we must mark this day
Commemorative days like today are more than symbolic. They are opportunities to draw public attention to burdens that too often remain hidden or ignored; to spur policymakers, institutions, and communities to act; and to create a narrative in which mental health is not siloed, but seen as deeply interconnected with social, economic, and security conditions.
In a country still grappling with the legacy of apartheid, structural inequality, and spatial fragmentation, violence has been woven into daily life for too many. Recognising this on World Mental Health Day is a step toward breaking the silence, galvanising collective responsibility, and demanding systemic responses.
The South African context: history, violence, trauma
South Africa’s history is steeped in structural violence – from colonialism to apartheid, enforced removals, policing regimes, and gross inequality. The political transition in 1994 ushered in new freedoms, but the social and economic fault lines did not disappear; many communities still live under conditions of poverty, exclusion, and neglect. In such a context, violence can become normalised – a reflex, a tool of control, an everyday risk.
Today, South Africa remains among the world’s most violent societies.
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The country consistently
reports high rates of homicide, assaults, sexual violence, and violent crime.
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Estimates show that about a third of South African women over the age of 18 have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
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Studies also reveal significant levels of violence directed toward and suffered by children.
How violence undermines mental health
Violence research demonstrates that violence does harm not only through its immediate physical dangers, but through
multiple pathways that degrade mental well-being:
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Trauma and PTSD: Direct or witnessed violence can cause traumatic stress, intrusive memories, flashbacks, and hyperarousal.
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Depression, anxiety, hopelessness: Persistent exposure to threat wears down psychological resilience.
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Intergenerational and developmental effects: Children who grow up in violent environments may carry emotional scars into adulthood.
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Secondary adversities: Violence often disrupts education, employment, and social cohesion.
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Stigma and silence: In many communities, mental distress is stigmatised or dismissed as weakness.
What must be done: a multi‑layered response
Confronting violence as a mental health challenge requires action at multiple levels:
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Prevention and structural change: Address poverty, inequality, and broken infrastructure.
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Trauma-informed mental health services: Scale up accessible mental health care and integrate trauma sensitivity.
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Community resilience and peer support: Strengthening safe spaces and community networks
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Policy, funding, accountability: Increase budgets and ensure robust data systems.
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Awareness and stigma reduction: Use campaigns and education to break the silence.
Conclusion
On this World Mental Health Day, South Africa is challenged to see violence not simply as a crime statistic, but as a public mental health emergency – one that cracks the foundation of our collective wellbeing. If we fail to connect the dots, we will forever treat mental illness as an isolated domain, detached from the conditions that give birth to it.
Today is a moment to say: violence must not define our nation. Survivors deserve care and justice. Communities deserve safety. Let the recognition we give today translate into sustained resolve, funding, and systemic change – so that healing may become possible for all.
Helplines & support in South Africa
If you or someone you know is in distress, here are some organisations you can contact:
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SADAG (Suicide Crisis Helpline): 0800 567 567
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Lifeline South Africa: 0861 322 322
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Gender-Based Violence Command Centre: 0800 428 428
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Cipla Mental Health Helpline 0800 456 789
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Childline South Africa: 116
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The Triangle Project: 021 712 6699
- Author Dr Jarred Martin, Department of Psychology, UP (uploaded by Mrs Juanita Haug)
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