According to the World Health Organization, worldwide 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental illness. The National Youth at Risk Survey conducted in South Africa, which focuses on children and adolescents between Grade 8 and Grade 11, highlighted that 24% of the youth surveyed had experienced feelings of depression, hopelessness and sadness while a further 21% had attempted suicide at least once. Mental illness is a thing.

Generally non-white races don’t take recognition of the fact that a child can be sick and the cause can be mental illness. Just because it doesn’t show physically (which it does to those who self-harm) it doesn't automatically disqualify it from being a sickness. Parents have the ideology that a sickness is only a sickness if you can see the effects physically, a misconception common in black households.

I feel strongly about this topic that I decided to do a Digital-interview with an ex-high school friend of mine - Usiphile Shasha, whom I knew was suffering from Mental illness, to give me a perspective of what it feels like to be in a black family where mental illness is not seen as an illness but witchcraft.



I Asked her what her parents' reaction to her illness is/was when they found out she was really sick, and whether they were understanding, she replied: “I'm not sure if it's them not understanding or them being ignorant, because they're very educated. They just have that mentality of "this isn't a black person's illness" or "not my child, I can't have a weak child" or "you don't use your traditional medicine that's why the spirits got to you". My mother, for the longest time ever, did not allow me to go to therapy and my dad was convinced that I'm just wasting the medical aid funds. They were so convinced that I wasn't sick that when I got booked into the hospital they got the shock of their lives. I remember my dad texted me when he came to visit me there and told me how his heart broke seeing me so weak and fragile, he said that he didn't know I was that brittle. He thinks having a mental illness is a weakness instead of a sickness. The fact that my sister is also Bipolar took a toll on the family and then I felt like my parents couldn't handle both kids being sick, so I kept my illness from them. (However, they never cared to check up or ask, if they did have the time for me I am pretty sure I would have told them.) They always had their hands full with my sister so I took a back seat and just nursed myself. As a result, when my dad found out he had the shock of his life. He told me that he thought it was only my sister who was sick. Like they've only ever given her the platform of being sick and not the both of us, so I kept my illness to myself. My mother when she found out made everything about her, she started talking about how she feels like she's failed as a parent by having a sick child and not even knowing it and all that."


I was extremely curious as to what it’s like spending some time at a psychiatric hospital, and so I asked her this. She Replied: “I was very fortunate that the hospitals I've been admitted into were private hospitals, so they were really amazing. (They're better than my student accommodation place😂) We did a lot of recreational activities like art and stuff and that made me feel pretty great because I didn't know I was creative and it's so relaxing. It was frustrating however because we had to attend group sessions and I don't like people🙄🌝sometimes though you don't get so lucky. Because that hospital was a voluntary hospital, they don't force you to do much that you can't handle. The worst part was when I was on suicide watch, they put me in a high care unit and they literally used to watch me all the time, even when I go to the bathroom I wasn't allowed to lock the door, even when I just sit in the ward in my bed I was being watched. I wasn't allowed outside the ward at all, only times I could leave was to go to the bathroom. They even had the food brought to me.


I Asked her what the prevailing race was in the psychiatric hospital to get a slight view of if black parents/people in general are studying to breakdown the misconception surrounded by mental illness. Although it doesn't paint a vivid picture - due to some black people not having access to private facilities that cater to mental illness’ and other factors’ it gives somewhat of an idea and questions whether depression and mental illness is a concern within the public health system in south Africa. She Replied: “The prevailing race there was white people, but as the time went by more and more people of color were being admitted too. Something I realized whilst I was there by talking with the other patients was the fact that it takes so much for a black person to admit that they're sick and to go and get help and to not recognize that as a weakness. The women there told me how hard it was for them to come to terms with the fact that they are in fact sick and it isn't their fault. That's another reason why there aren't a lot of black people in the hospital.

I asked her if it helped being there, and what she got out from her days spent there, she replied: “The month spent there was very great, because I was in a contained environment. It was great to finally forget about everything and just be tired and depressed and bipolar and learn how to deal with it and manage it myself and all. The fact that the nurses understood that I am sick was another remarkable thing. Them, along with the therapists, were so patient with me. They understood that it isn't my fault and they taught me how to be patient with myself and how to handle myself. Like after every self-harm episode they just took me to the infirmary, cleaned up my wounds and covered them for me because they knew I didn't want anyone to see them. And after every single relapse they didn't remind me or make me feel bad about it. They really understood. The worst part was leaving because I now had to adjust to life outside the contained environment and being on my own again which was a problem since I am a hazard to myself. So yes, the hospital really did help because a lot has changed even though it isn't major changes I'm still taking it one step at a time. For example, now I've learnt to wait up until myself harm scars heal before self-harming again, I no longer double up on myself.”


It's high time that black parents acknowledge the fact that mental illness is not a white mans disease but can actually affect anyone. In a generation where more and more children are being pressured and stressed at schools its an ever increasing problem among us as the youth. Its not only black parents that need to remove the stigma around mental illness as being witchcraft rather than an actual illness, The black community as a whole that's misinformed about such need to get educated on this rising issue. if you'd like to know more check out The south African depression and anxiety group here.

Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline

0800 70 80 90

Destiny Helpline for Youth & Students

0800 41 42 43

Dr Reddy's Help Line

0800 21 22 23

Suicide Crisis Line

0800 567 567

SMS 31393

SADAG Mental Health Line

011 234 4837

Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit 24 Hour

0861 435 787