Khethiwe Nkuna
Introduction: A Different Kind of Fight for Freedom
Every June, South Africa commemorates Youth Month in honour of the fearless students of 1976 who fought for the right to a better, fairer education. But in today’s classrooms, another fight is playing out—one that isn’t visible in protest marches or placards. It’s the fight for mental wellness, and for far too many young people, it’s being fought in silence, behind smiles, behind closed doors, and, too often, behind stigma.
Mental health has become a defining issue for this generation of youth. Yet, it remains poorly understood, under-resourced, and deeply stigmatised—especially in township, rural, and traditional communities where cultural norms discourage emotional expression and where professional support is either inaccessible or unaffordable.
The Numbers That Should Alarm Us All
South Africa is facing a youth mental health emergency:
- Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15–24.
- Between April and December 2024 alone, 7,426 children were treated for suicide attempts across public health facilities.
- Studies show that up to 20% of South African high school learners have attempted suicide at least once.
- And yet, 80% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health conditions do not receive treatment.
These statistics aren’t just numbers—they represent classrooms with empty desks, broken families, and dreams that never had the chance to be realised.
The Weight of Stigma: Why Silence Persists
Mental illness, especially among youth, is still heavily stigmatised in many South African households. Mental health issues are often dismissed as laziness, weakness, or simply “a phase”. In some traditional contexts, depression is interpreted as a spiritual or moral failing rather than a health issue. As a result, young people internalise shame, isolate themselves, or worse—begin to believe they are broken beyond repair.
Phrases like:
- “You’re just being dramatic.”
- “Black people don’t get depressed.”
- “You’ve got nothing to be sad about.”
- “We survived apartheid; you can survive school.”
These responses, though often well-meaning, invalidate real pain and widen the gap between those in need and those positioned to help.
What makes the stigma even more damaging is that it doesn’t just come from adults—it also comes from peers. Fear of being labelled “crazy,” “attention-seeking”, or “weak” keeps many young people from speaking up. They learn early that vulnerability is risky, and that silence feels safer.
Cultural Context Matters
It’s important to understand that stigma doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is shaped by complex layers of cultural belief systems, religious traditions, historical trauma, and structural inequality. For example:
- In communities where daily survival is a priority, mental health is seen as a luxury.
- In faith communities, spiritual interpretations may discourage clinical treatment.
- In homes where emotional expression is discouraged, youth learn to suppress rather than process.
This means that tackling stigma requires more than awareness campaigns—it requires a culturally grounded, community-led response.
Creating Safe Spaces: What Youth Need Most
The youth of today need more than motivational talks or poster campaigns. They need real, sustained, tangible support in the spaces they occupy:
In Schools:
- Every school should have access to trained mental health professionals or social workers, not just once a term, but consistently.
- Mental wellness education should be integrated into the Life Orientation curriculum, not as an afterthought but as a core subject.
- Peer-led initiatives and support clubs can foster shared understanding and peer accountability.
In Homes:
- Parents and caregivers need tools to recognise signs of distress. Parenting workshops, community dialogues, and faith-based wellness interventions can all play a role.
- Conversations about mental health must become as common as conversations about academic performance or discipline.
In Communities:
- Local clinics, NGOs, and youth centres must be equipped to offer confidential, youth-friendly mental health services.
- Youth should be involved in designing these interventions so that the language, setting, and messaging reflect their lived reality.
What Role Does Social Media Play?
Social media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it exposes youth to global conversations about mental health, validation, and community. But it also exposes them to toxic comparison culture, cyberbullying, and unrealistic beauty and lifestyle standards.
This generation is hyper-connected, yet often deeply lonely. It’s critical that we teach digital literacy and emotional self-regulation alongside any technological advancement. Schools and parents must help youth distinguish between curated online personas and real life, and give them the tools to navigate both safely.
From Awareness to Action: What We Must Do Now
Awareness is the starting point. But real change requires commitment, policy, and funding.
- Government must prioritise adolescent mental health in public health budgeting, with ringfenced funding and measurable impact targets.
- Corporates can invest in youth wellness as part of their ESG and skills development portfolios.
- Faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, and healers can be powerful allies in shifting the narrative from shame to support.
- The media must cover youth mental health with nuance and compassion, avoiding sensationalism and stigma-laden framing.
Closing Reflection: Our Youth Deserve More Than Survival
If June 16, 1976, was about fighting for the dignity of education, then June 16, 2025, must be about fighting for the dignity of emotional well-being.
We owe it to this generation to ensure that asking for help is not seen as weakness but as wisdom.
Mental health is not a luxury. It is foundational. It is a right. And in a country still reckoning with deep inequality, there is no transformation without emotional healing.
Let us raise our voices louder than the stigma that silences them. Let us ensure that no young person ever believes they have to suffer alone.
