Technology helps tackle South Africa’s mental health crisis

October is Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa, a month that aims to shine a light on and destigmatise the silent epidemic that affects millions of people.

Alon Lits, the co-CEO and co-founder of Panda, the mental health support app that launched a year ago, explains the significant role technology plays in providing access to those who need affordable mental health support and resources.

The reality is that hundreds of thousands of South Africans suffer in silence because they are too embarrassed to ask for help, they don’t know how or where to get help or they simply can’t afford to get help.

This is when the Panda team realised enough was enough and drove the primary objective behind the app to provide as many people as possible with access to a supportive community where they can get treated and get better. Lits and his business partner Allan Sweidan, a clinical psychologist, knew the way to do this was through technology.

“Anyone with a smart phone can access the Panda app. We have made the platform so easy to use so that we can try to democratise access to mental health support and help people find the right care at the right time, says Lits. “Since launching Panda, we have gained valuable insights into what ails our nation from a mental health perspective. Our data has revealed a critical need for support for anxiety, depression, exam stress, sleep-deprivation and self-esteem. By far the biggest issue people deal with is anxiety, overwhelmingly affecting younger age groups” he explains.

 Findings from the Mental Health of the World report 2021 that recorded South Africans as having the lowest mental health quotient score in the world, means our country is facing a mental health crisis that very little is being done about.

This is evident in South Africa where suicide is the second-leading cause of death among those under the age of 29, taking the lives of 23 South Africans every day. For those grappling with poverty, unemployment and violence, the risk of suicide is even higher. With 9 out of 10 people who die by suicide being found to have suffered from a mental disorder, often unnoticed, undetected, and untreated, it is time to break down the barriers that prevent them getting help.

To help curb the broader mental health crisis, Panda has made a wide range of assessments available on its app so that users can better understand and proactively manage their mental health. Importantly, the app provides users with personalised recommendations about how to take the first step to manage their mental health journey.

Below are key benefits of using technology for mental health support: