It’s almost time for HOPEtober!
In October the whole of South Africa observes Mental Health Awareness month. For this reason, The Ithemba Foundation likes to refer to the month as HOPEtober – a month in which we all focus on hope as an antidote to depression. Here’s a look ahead at the exciting events that you can look forward to in HOPEtober:
The Hope Hike on 5 October
The Ithemba Foundation invites all our friends and supporters to join us in advancing the conversation around mental health on Sunday, 5 October. Hope Hike is a virtual event this year, so that means all you have to do is run or walk a distance of your choice and encourage those around you to talk openly about mental health.
There are also awesome prizes up for grabs. Post your inspiring Hope Hike photos on the Ithemba Foundation’s Facebook (IthembaFoundation1) or Instagram (@ithembafoundation) pages and you stand the chance to win one of three R1 000 Takealot vouchers. Enter here and remember to post your proof of entry with your photo by 17 October. Winners will be selected via a random draw.
The Cape Town Marathon on 18 and 19 October
We are very excited to announce that we have a record number of entrants running and walking for #TeamIthemba in this year’s Cape Town Marathon weekend. The various events include the Marathon (42,2 km) on 19 October 2025, as well as Trail Runs (11km or 22km) and the Peace Run/Walk (5km or 10km) on 18 October 2025. All #TeamIthemba participants have signed up to raise awareness and funds for The Ithemba Foundation via the GivenGain website. Look out for the #TeamIthemba participants along the route – they will all be competing in specially designed Ithemba running shirts.
If you want to contribute to Ithemba’s public benefits goals of creating awareness about mental health diseases and sponsoring research about these debilitating diseases, please consider donating to one the following Ithemba participants on their GivenGain platforms:
- https://www.givengain.com/project/aluta-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-108712
- https://www.givengain.com/project/delana-mareike-and-hein-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-108737
- https://www.givengain.com/project/janine-and-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-107132
- https://www.givengain.com/project/willemien-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-108260
- https://www.givengain.com/project/izak-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-107198
- https://www.givengain.com/project/desire-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-108508
- https://www.givengain.com/project/florence-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-107889
- https://www.givengain.com/project/nicola-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-108776
- https://www.givengain.com/project/diane-raising-funds-for-ithemba-foundation-npc-106912
The problem with depression in men
Men are diagnosed with depression half as often as women, yet men die by suicide three to four times more frequently. Although there is not an absolute correlation between depression and suicide, depression is one of suicide’s most significant risk factors. So, what is going on?
In an article published in the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics, Nathan Swetlitz argues that assumptions about traditional gender roles pose significant barriers to diagnosing men with depression. Many boys are taught by their parents, teachers and peers to express themselves and their emotions differently to how girls typically would.
As a result, male depression can manifest very differently from the commonly cited depression symptoms such as sadness, social withdrawal and the loss of interest in activities. When a study published in JAMA Psychiatry accounted for “male-typical” symptoms of depression (for example, overworking, substance misuse and aggression), the difference in rates of depression between men and women disappeared.
While the stigma surrounding depression exists for both genders, traditional Western masculine ideals, such as toughness and self-reliance, can make it more difficult for men to acknowledge and express their feelings. Men who strongly subscribe to these traditional masculinities are particularly likely to suffer from depression, but they are the least likely to seek help for their symptoms.
Help is available 24 hours a day
A plea to all men: If you suspect that you are depressed, please seek help as soon as possible. If reaching out to friends and family is difficult, then please contact one of the organisations listed here for help on a completely confidential basis: Organisations that can help – Ithemba Foundation
‘Writing as therapy’ workshops in October
“There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you.”
These are the words of the famous author Maya Angelou (1928-2014), who wrote numerous immensely successful autobiographical books about her life. Writing as therapy is a scientifically proven therapy – not only psychologically in terms of relieving you of negative feelings, but even making you physically healthier. It has been proven that writing lowers blood pressure and strengthens immunity, among other factors.
The Ithemba Foundation offers two workshops on ‘Writing as therapy’ on Saturday, 11 October, in Stellenbosch. The first workshop starts at 08:30 for 09:00, and the second at 13:30 for 14:00. They will be presented by Ithemba founder and author of the book on writing therapy, Om tot verhaal te kom, Prof Lizette Rabe. Please register here.
Please note that the workshops will be presented in Afrikaans/Let daarop dat die werkwinkels in Afrikaans aangebied word.
A presentation on writing therapy in English will be presented by Prof Rabe at the annual general meeting of the South African leg of the international organisation The Compassionate Friends on 1 November. For more information please contact the organiser, Alta Volschenk, on cey51155@gmail.com.