Cleopatra Ntshingila and  Modjadji Matsapola 
In 2023, South Africa was ranked as one of the most
unhappy and distressed nations (2023 Mental State of the World Report), largely
due to its mental health crisis, especially among women. More than half of
South Africa’s population is female (Stats SA, 2022), and Mayer et al. (2019)
discovered that South African women are almost 1.75 times more likely to be
diagnosed with a depressive disorder than men. Women between the ages of 16 and
24 are nearly three times more likely (26%) to experience a common mental
health issue, such as anxiety, than males of the same age (9%).
The above statistics imply that although democracy has
brought freedom and opportunities to women, it has also introduced challenges.
The changing roles and pursuit of gender equality increase pressure on women,
thus affecting their mental health. Women now occupy roles that were previously
reserved for men, have platforms to voice their concerns, and are involved in
decision-making and leadership roles. In an interview with Ms Boitumelo Medupe
(Assistant Director of Human Resource Management) regarding women's challenges,
she said, “Most women go through relationship challenges. They are normally
primary caregivers or economic contributors in the household. They also carry
the burden of having to prove themselves in the workplace, especially if the
field is male-dominated.” 
Sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and
gender-based violence—which has become a pandemic in South Africa—are among the
challenges women face. Schools are supposed to offer a safe environment for
young women to learn and express themselves freely; however, bullying, peer
pressure, and alcohol and drug abuse have taken over and are negatively
impacting their mental well-being. 
“In addition to academic pressure, future uncertainty,
identity, and self-discovery, which affect all pupils, most teenage girls
struggle with body image and appearance, comparison traps, statutory rape, and
teenage pregnancy,” said Mrs Mogale (Principal at Kgotloana Primary School).
“Although topics such as rape, body development changes, and substance abuse
are incorporated into the education system, teenage girls still struggle to
adjust to these changes,” she added. According to the Gauteng Department of
Health, in this current financial year, over 13,700 babies were born to teenage
mothers across public health facilities in the province. This reveals how
alarming teenage pregnancy is in Gauteng and across South Africa.
When interviewed about women and mental health, Ms
Boitumelo Medupe stated, “I think it should be prioritised, but it’s not, due
to the pressures that women often have to operate within. You would find a
woman who is a mother, a breadwinner, and a manager. All these roles have
demands on her, and she is not necessarily getting support from anywhere. She
is afraid of failing because that failure would become her identity.”
Ms Boitumelo Medupe also mentioned that the role
played by African culture in women’s mental health can be either positive or
negative, depending on the situation. “Some cultural practices, especially
those that encourage social support or cohesion, positively affect mental
health. For example, a married woman would be encouraged to escalate issues
with her in-laws or the ‘delegated authority’ in the family to solve the
challenges she might be facing. Adversely, the very culture might discourage
such escalation, emphasising the need to hide emotions so that ‘your dirty
laundry is not aired in public.’ Some cultures believe that a child belongs to
the family, which might serve as a buffer to a single parent. Thus, different
standards affect mental health differently, and it is not always negative,” she
said. 
“Society normally presents picture-perfect people, and
as such, if a person has a mental wellness issue, they might be ostracised or
stigmatised. This is a sure way to hamper disclosures and treatment of mental
conditions. In many cases, after a woman has given birth, it is expected that
she will be there for her child, sometimes without any support. If she is
unable to look after the baby because of postpartum depression (PPD), she might
be considered lazy or lacking motherly care or instincts,” Ms Boitumelo added.
Society expects women to be employed, get married, and have children by a
certain age, and this adds pressure, which may lead to depression, especially
when those expectations are not met.
In conclusion, self-care is paramount. Normalise
counselling and talk therapy, resolve issues as quickly as possible, listen to
your body, and develop and nurture supportive relationships. Prioritise
yourself. If you are in relationships that don’t serve you, leave that table,
set boundaries, and enforce them. Simple things like exercising regularly,
maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, surrounding ourselves with
positive people, practising positive self-affirmations, and rewarding and spoiling
ourselves can give women a significant mental boost. Remember, seek and you
shall find. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out for help when you feel
like the whole world is on your shoulders.
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
011 234 4837  
Suicide Crisis Helpline
0800 567 567  
Department of Social Development Substance Abuse
Helpline
0800 12 13 14  
SMS 32312  
Cipla Mental Health Helpline
0800 456 789  
SMS 31393