We use a number of avenues to create awareness (e.g. campaigns, press releases, social media etc.). These are informed by evidence and up to date data, such as The Lancet Commission for Ending Stigma and Discrimination (2022). Our awareness efforts are informed and amplified by our Mental Health Societies and persons with lived experience.
In order to ensure that our awareness efforts reach everyone, everywhere, SAFMH works with its 17 Mental Health Societies [who are community based mental health organisations, located in all nine provinces across South Africa] to spread mental health awareness to the broader public.
EMpowered Minds Newsletter
Our bi-weekly digital newsletter goes out to all our subscribers. The content of each newsletter generally follows a specific theme and we make sure to include the latest research, resources and news in each field that we unpack. We also showcase our work and weigh in on the themes that are being focused on.
Apart from it being a great exercise for us to keep up to date with the latest news in the mental health field, it is also a great way for us to stay engaged with our community.
As part of our awareness and public education on mental health SAFMH uses:
Our Awareness Campaigns
In addition to the daily promotion of mental health rights, SAFMH runs wider public campaigns on a yearly basis. Every year the organisation focuses on three main annual awareness month programmes in consultation with persons with lived experience of mental health conditions. In 2024, we also added Men’s Health Month to our list of month-long awareness campaigns, and we’ll be continuing with this in future.
Intellectual Disability Awareness Month
Intellectual Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) is celebrated annually in March. Each year the campaign focuses on educating the public about the issues facing persons living with intellectual disability, highlighting the valuable contribution persons with intellectual disability make to society, while at the same time bringing to light the societal and attitudinal barriers they face in exercising their human rights.
Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month
Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month (PDAM) is celebrated annually in July. The campaign is aimed at raising awareness around the prevalence of mental health problems in our country and identifying some of the policy gaps that compound the challenges of inaccessible mental health care services for everyone in the country.
World Mental Health Awareness Month
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is celebrated on the 10th of October annually, which is a core component of World Mental Health Month, which is celebrated throughout October annually. WMHD and the rest of October provides an opportunity to re-spark and deepen the commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities, and countries. Everyone has the right to access quality, affordable and culturally-sensitive mental health services.
Ongoing Awareness
Throughout the year, SAFMH publishes regular press releases, opinion pieces, infographics and articles on all things mental health. We also commemorate mental health and other health and human rights-related awareness days, weeks and months.
As an organisation, we know that awareness plays an important role in breaking down negative perceptions and eradicating stigma and discrimination. It is through continuous public education that we are able to address and try eradicate intolerant attitudes towards persons with lived experience of mental health conditions.
Key Moments Calendar
