October 2025: Mental Health Awareness Month — A Faith-Informed Call to Care

06/10/2025

In South Africa, October is Mental Health Awareness Month—a nationwide moment to listen, learn, and act with compassion for those living with anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, and related struggles. It's also the month that includes World Mental Health Day on 10 October. This year, the World Health Organisation is spotlighting the mental-health needs of people affected by humanitarian emergencies—reminding us that crisis, displacement, and chronic stressors can deepen psychological wounds and require intentional community response. 

Why this month matters (here at home)

Mental health challenges are not abstract statistics—they are part of our congregations, workplaces, classrooms, and homes. Evidence shows South Africa faces a heavy burden: independent reporting and public health bodies estimate a suicide rate around 23.5 per 100,000, with roughly 23 deaths every day, and far more people attempting suicide each year. These are not just numbers; they are stories, families, and futures. 

At the global level, the WHO has documented a significant increase in anxiety and depression during and after the pandemic, with lingering impacts on access to care. Many South Africans continue to experience economic strain, chronic stress, grief, and burnout—which can all intensify mental-health needs. W

A hopeful, faith-rooted perspective

At MINDSHIFTERS, we hold together clinical wisdom and Christian hope. Scripture never shames pain—it names it, and meets it with presence:

  • "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

  • Elijah, overwhelmed and despairing, was given rest, nourishment, and gentle guidance (1 Kings 19:1–18).

  • "Do not be anxious about anything… the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6–7)

  • "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

Faith does not deny struggle; it dignifies it—and invites us to respond with patience, competent care, and community.

What this looks like—practical steps for October

For individuals

  1. Do a gentle self-check. Notice sleep, appetite, irritability, persistent sadness, loss of interest, panic, or thoughts of self-harm. Early recognition is an act of stewardship.

  2. Talk to someone you trust. Share how you're actually doing with a friend, pastor, mentor, or counsellor.

  3. Build small rhythms that regulate. Try a 10-minute daily walk, breath prayer, journaling, or a consistent bedtime. Start tiny; be consistent.

  4. Seek qualified help. Therapy or coaching is not a last resort—it's wisdom. If you're not sure where to start, we can guide you.

  5. Create a personal crisis plan. List three people you can call, one safe place to go, and at least one helpline (see below).

For families & caregivers

  • Normalise language about emotions at the dinner table: "High/Low/Help"—what was your high today, your low, and where do you need help?

  • Model healthy coping (sleep, movement, prayer, boundaries).

  • Open gentle check-ins with teens: specific, non-judgmental questions ("How's your energy been this week?" "What's feeling heavy?").

For workplaces, churches & community leaders

  • Name October from the pulpit or in staff meetings; include a short mental-health moment or prayer.

  • Offer low-barrier support, e.g., a monthly "listening hour," mental-health resource wall, or a staff well-being check-in form.

  • Train your frontline (ushers, HR, youth volunteers) to spot warning signs and refer safely—pair empathy with clear boundaries and referral pathways.

  • Review policies: flexible time for therapy, clear escalation steps for risk, and a crisis protocol (who calls whom, when, and how).

When is it urgent?

  • Immediate help is needed if you or someone you love talks about wanting to die, has a plan, or cannot ensure their own safety. In South Africa, SADAG's 24/7 Suicide Crisis Helpline is 0800 567 567, with additional mental-health helplines available (including WhatsApp lines and sector-specific support). Save these numbers in your phone and put them on your fridge at home and in your office. sadag.org+2sadag.org+2

If you are in immediate danger, please call emergency services or a 24/7 crisis line right now.

This year's global focus (10 October)

The 2025 World Mental Health Day campaign is emphasising mental health in humanitarian emergencies—from displacement and disaster to chronic community-level trauma. Even if you're not directly affected, compassion fatigue and "bad-news overwhelm" are real. Curate your media intake, strengthen local ties, and keep your soul anchored in prayer, Scripture, and embodied rhythms of rest and service. 

How MINDSHIFTERS can walk with you this October

  • 1:1 Counselling & Coaching (online or in-person). Faith-informed, evidence-based support for anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, conflict, and life transitions.

  • Couples & Family Sessions. Tools for communication, boundaries, and reconnection.

  • Workplace Well-Being Workshops. Practical, 60–90-minute sessions for teams: Stress & Burnout 101, Leading with Empathy, Psychological Safety Basics, Faith & Mental Health at Work.

  • Pastoral & Volunteer Training. Recognise, respond, and refer—without overfunctioning.

  • Referral Pathways. If you need psychiatric assessment, trauma services, or specialised care, we help you navigate options and next steps.

We approach every person with dignity, confidentiality, and a commitment to whole-person care—mind, body, relationships, and spirit.

A simple "Rule of Life" for October (and beyond)

  • Morning: two deep breaths, a short prayer ("Lord, here I am"), and sunlight for 2–5 minutes.

  • Mid-day: 10-minute reset: stretch, step outside, hydrate, single-task for 20 minutes.

  • Evening: gratitude (3 things), device curfew 60 minutes before bed, a verse of comfort (try Psalm 23; Matthew 11:28–30).

  • Weekly: one tech-light evening, one connection ritual (coffee with a friend, a family game), one act of service.

  • Monthly: schedule any overdue check-ins (doctor, therapist, mentor) and review your support plan.

A prayer for those who are struggling

Father, You are close to the brokenhearted and attentive to our cries. Give courage to ask for help, wisdom to take the next step, and companions who carry burdens with gentleness. Guard our hearts and minds with Your peace in Christ. Amen. (Psalm 34:18; Philippians 4:6–7)

Quick resources & helplines (save and share)

  • SADAG 24/7 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567

  • Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline (24/7): 0800 12 13 14 (SMS 32312)

  • Cipla Mental Health Helpline (24/7): 0800 456 789

If you or a loved one needs support—or if you'd like us to equip your team, church, or school—reach out to MINDSHIFTERS. This October, let's choose presence over pretence, care over stigma, and practical hope over silence.

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