#SafeSpace: Hykie Berg gives hope to men with mental health illnesses
'Binnelanders' actor, Hykie Berg, opened up about his mental health and being a recovered addict.
80% of South Africans who need mental health support are unable to access it easily according to Cassey Chambers of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). The statistics are even more alarming when it comes to South African men. According to World Health Organisation, South Africa has the second highest rate of suicide in the world, just a fraction behind Russia.
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Of the 13,774 suicides reported in South Africa in 2019, 10 861 were men, while 2 913 were women. These figures highlight South Africa’s urgent need for intervention and resources to support everyone, but especially men.
"Jacaranda FM speaks to around 1,5 million listeners weekly, of those listeners, 50% are male. We wanted to develop a campaign that could create an immediate impact for our male community and after much consideration, we asked Panda to partner with us," says Deirdre King, Managing Director of Jacaranda FM.
#SafeSpace aims to break the stigma attached to asking for help or support by empowering men with the tools offered in the Panda app.
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As part of the Jacaranda FM and Panda partnership, users are invited to book up to three, FREE 30-minute text-based chat sessions with mental health professionals by using the promo code #SafeSpace.
In the latest episode of #SafeSpace, the popular 'Binnelanders' actor, Hykie Berg, joined Rob Forbes to talk about mental health and addiction.
Watch the full conversation below:
Join The Drive with Rob & Roz every weekday from 16:00 to 19:00 on Jacaranda FM as Rob Forbes and Rozanne McKenzie speak to various male celebrities throughout November about the challenges they faced and how prioritising their mental health has helped them.
The Panda app is available on the Apple and Android app stores. Search for ‘Join Panda’ to download the app, click here to register for free, or visit www.jacarandafm.com for more information.
Tune in to the 'The Drive with Rob & Roz', on weekdays from 16:00 - 19:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.