42 |^22 AUGUST^2019 http://www.drum.co.za
F
EELING stressed and over-
whelmed can be a lonely
road to travel, especially
if you don’t know where
to turn for help. If these
feelings have persisted
for a while, chances are
you may be suffering from
clinical depression, a condition that
requires treatment.
And you’re definitely not alone. More
than 300 million people worldwide suffer
from depression, according to a report
released by the World Health Organisa-
tion in 2015, and a further 264 million
are affected by anxiety disorders.
Deciding to see a mental health prof-
essional is a brave step in the right
direction but it doesn’t come cheap and
figuring out how to pay for counselling
can be a huge challenge.
Most medical aids won’t cover ongoing
therapy and according to Meryl Da Costa
A visittoa privatepsychologist orcounsellorcanbe costlybutthere
are more affordable options for those needing help
BY LINDSAY DE FREITASof the South African Depression and
Anxiety Group (Sadag) face-to-face
therapy can cost anything from R600
to R1 200 per session.
The good news is there are a range of
other options available that don’t cost
an arm and a leg.
A new low-cost mental health centre
that offers counselling for R50 a session
recently opened its doors in Cape Town
and is set to provide help for people
who often fall through the cracks of
South Africa’s healthcare system.
The Counselling Hub is the brainchild
of the SA College of Applied Psychology
Foundation (Sacap) and the Kaplan
Kushlik Educational Trust. It offers one-
on-one sessions as well as free group
workshops, allowing people with lower
incomes to seek professional support.
But this new outfit isn’t the only alter-
native for those of us unable to fork out
money when in need of a therapist.NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
How it works Facilities like The Counsel-
ling Hub offer therapy or counselling
at discounted rates or for free, although
many NPOs have waiting periods due
to high demand.
If you don’t know where to start, your
best option is to contact Sadag so it can
point you in the right direction.
“Once you get on the line with one of
our lay counsellors they’ll assess your
situation and, if need be, put you in
touch with a counsellor, psychiatrist or
psychologist,” says spokesperson Kayla
Phillips.
“If you’re on medical aid we’ll put you
in touch with someone in the private
sector. If not, we’ll refer you to your
nearest NPO.
“Should your mental health crisis be
an emergency our counsellors will alert
your family and get an ambulance sent
to your home.”