Newsletter February 2025

 

What you should know about antidepressants

According to research conducted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, 25% of South Africans are depressed. Sadly, the majority never seek treatment for this condition. This may be due to the stigma associated with mental health issues, as well as skepticism about the use of antidepressants.

When used as directed by a medical professional, antidepressants are safe to use and can dramatically improve your quality of life. However, it is important to find the correct medication for your needs and to commit to taking it regularly, as your symptoms will not improve overnight. Antidepressants should also be accompanied by “talk therapy” to equip you with the skills to deal with past and current experiences that tend to trigger depression.

Click here to read more about how antidepressants work: Things You Should Know About Antidepressants – And Depression

 

 

Don’t resort to gambling to fix financial woes

The beginning of the year is often a time of financial difficulty. December pay cheques are traditionally paid early in the month and excess spending during the holidays often uses up funds that would otherwise have been sufficient to keep the household afloat.

The appeal of quick money through gambling for those in financial trouble can lead to a worsening situation. Often consumers will go into further debt by borrowing money to feed a gambling habit, with the aim of making their money grow. A red flag should immediately go up in a household if winnings from an unreliable and unpredictable source, such as gambling, is needed to survive from pay cheque to pay cheque.

Another underlying danger of supplementing income through gambling is the risk of developing a gambling addiction or compulsion. When gambling behaviour spins out of control, the habit can affect the financial and mental wellbeing of the gambler and their family. The only recourse is for the person to admit to their problem and seek help.

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) can help you deal with gambling addiction. Free counselling and treatment for compulsive and addictive gambling can be accessed by calling 0800 006 008; WhatsApp or SMS the word HELP to 076 675 0710 or email helpline@responsiblegambling.org.za

 

 

A source of comfort when dealing with loss

Ithemba founder Professor Lizette Rabe’s compilation, Words of Comfort, was recently republished. This compilation contains quotations relating to grief and loss from a wide spectrum of personalities, philosophers and professionals, ranging from Nelson Mandela to CS Lewis and Plato.

Professor Rabe regards herself as a fellow searcher in the bewildering territory of grief and loss. When grief struck her family many years ago she sought to gain some understanding by reading extensively on the topic of loss. She subsequently compiled the quotes that she came across in the hope that they would console and comfort others on a similar journey.

To order Words of Comfort, please send an email to ithembafoundation@mweb.co.za

 

 

Dates to diarise for the year

The year has kicked off pretty quickly, so it’s good to plan ahead by diarising important dates.

• Ithemba’s annual Hope Hike takes place on 5 October, or, as we like to call it, HOPEtober. There are different distances and routes to choose from, all in aid of raising awareness of depression and related diseases as biological illnesses, and you can participate in-person or virtually.
• The Cape Town Marathon events take place on 18 and 19 October 2025. The Peace5km, Peace10km and trail runs take place on 18 October and the 42,2km marathon is on 19 October. You can sign up to run/walk on behalf of Ithemba Foundation and raise funds for the causes that we support. Every donation makes a difference. Email Ithembafoundation@mweb.co.za for more information for your sponsored entry.