Youth Mental Health Crisis South Africa – Breaking the Decade-Long Decline
Youth mental health crisis South Africa has reached emergency levels. Over the past decade, teen depression rates doubled from 8.5% to 17%, with suicide attempts among 15-19-year-olds surging 31% post-pandemic. Emergency room visits for self-harm spiked 25% among girls, while boys silently battle isolation. This isn’t natural adolescence—it’s a systemic failure demanding urgent action. The […]
Where Our Attention Goes, Our Healing Follows
As we move into a new year, something subtle but powerful shifts inside us – our attention. What we choose to notice, think about, and emotionally return to begins to shape the direction of our lives. In psychology, we understand that attention is not passive. It is an active force. Where our attention goes, our […]
January as a Nervous System Reset for Therapists and Clients
January often arrives quietly, yet it carries a powerful psychological shift. After the emotional intensity of December, family dynamics, grief, celebrations, exhaustion, and unprocessed stress, both clients and therapists enter a collective state of nervous system depletion. This is why January is not the month for radical transformation. It is the month for resetting the […]
Mindfulness – The Missing Link in Mental Health
By Laurian Ward – Counselling Psychologist, Pretoria East In the mental-health world, mindfulness – has become one of the most used—and misused—words in recent years. But beyond the trends, beyond the Instagram quotes and the meditation apps, lies a clinically grounded truth: mindfulness is not optional for therapeutic growth. It is foundational. What Mindfulness Really Means […]
The Dark Side of the Holiday Season
Navigating Family, Triggers & the Masks We Wear This Holiday Season The holidays are marketed as soft lights, perfect families, and effortless togetherness. But any psychologist—or any honest human—knows the truth: every family is a system built from multiple histories, different homes, unspoken rules, and unresolved wounds. It is holiday season and when December arrives, […]
Sad, Worthless, and a feeling of Hopelessness
Feeling sad, worthless, and a feeling of hopelessness can weigh heavily on a person’s spirit, creating a profound sense of emptiness and despair. These feelings, though deeply painful, are more common than many realize. When someone feels worthless, it means they struggle to see value in themselves, their actions, or their existence. This can lead […]
Sadness Versus Depression – Understanding the Fine Line
We all feel sadness from time to time. It’s a normal, human emotion — a natural response to loss, disappointment, or change. Whether it’s the end of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, or even a tough week at work, sadness is part of what makes us human. But while sadness can be […]
September is Suicide Awareness Month
This month is about suicide awareness, break stigma, and remember that behind every number is a life, a family, and a story. Globally, suicide claims more than 700,000 lives each year, making it one of the leading causes of preventable death. What is striking is the difference between men and women when it comes to […]
Neuropathy, Pain, and the Choices We Make
September is Pain Awareness Month, a time to pause and reflect not only on the reality of physical pain but also on the deeper lessons pain teaches us about life and responsibility. One condition that many people live with, but few really understand, is neuropathy. What Does “Neuropathy” Mean? The word itself comes from two […]
Parents: Suicide and the Internet
What Every Parent Should Know Today’s teens are more digitally connected than ever—and more emotionally unstable. Despite increased access to psychologists, suicide rates among youth have surged. Between 2014 and 2024, suicide among ages 10–24 rose by 56%. Girls aged 10–14 saw a 167% increase. Why? The answer lies partly in the influence of social […]