Mental Illness Is Treatable. Most People Never Get Treated.
Not because treatment doesn’t work. Because of what people think it means about them. Depression is not weakness. Anxiety is not a lack of faith. These are medical conditions with medical treatments, and most people improve, often substantially, once they start.
Speak to someone, 012 798 7000
If you need help today
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out now. You do not have to explain it well or have the right words.
SA Mental Health Line: 0800 567 567, 24 hours
Botshilu Emergency Room: 012 798 7076, open 24 hours
You will be treated with respect. Nobody here will judge you.
Who we help
- Depression. Lasting low mood, loss of interest, exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix, hopelessness.
- Anxiety and panic. Constant worry, a racing heart, avoidance, sleeplessness.
- Bipolar mood disorder. Periods of extreme high energy alternating with deep lows.
- Psychosis. Hearing or seeing things others don’t, or beliefs that isolate you from those around you.
- Substance use. A treatable medical condition, not a moral failure.
- Grief and trauma. After a death, an accident, an assault, or a diagnosis.
- Postnatal depression. See our page on women’s mental health.
- Families carrying someone else’s illness, and needing support themselves.
What to expect
Most people’s fear is of the unknown. So here it is, plainly.
- You book like any other appointment. No special referral is needed in most cases.
- You talk. The first session is mostly listening: your history, what’s been happening, for how long, and what you want to change.
- You get a name for it. Not a label. A diagnosis is simply what allows the right treatment to be chosen.
- You agree a plan. Therapy, medication, or both. You are part of that decision, and you can ask questions about any of it.
- You come back. Mental health treatment works over weeks, not in a single visit.
Cost and medical aid
Mental health benefits vary considerably between schemes, and some are limited. We will check yours honestly before you commit to a course of treatment. Certain conditions are covered as Prescribed Minimum Benefits regardless of plan, and we’ll tell you if yours is one of them. Cash patients: ask for the consultation fee upfront.
Your team
Psychiatrists
Clinical Psychologists
Social Worker
Full profiles and consulting details are in our specialist directory.
Questions people actually ask
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses mental illness and can prescribe medication. A psychologist provides therapy, which is structured talking treatment, and does not prescribe. A social worker helps with the practical side: family support, grants, housing, workplace issues, and connecting you to community resources. Many people benefit from more than one.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
Usually not. You can book directly. If your medical aid requires a referral in order to pay, we’ll tell you before your appointment.
Will I be put on tablets for the rest of my life?
Not necessarily, and not without a conversation. Many people take medication for a defined period while other treatment does its work. Others need it long term, in the same way someone with high blood pressure does. It is discussed with you, not decided for you.
Is it confidential? Will my employer find out?
Your treatment is confidential and protected under POPIA. Your employer is not told. If you need a medical certificate, it does not have to state a diagnosis.
What if I can’t afford ongoing therapy?
Say so at the first appointment rather than stopping quietly. We can look at spacing sessions, what your benefit actually covers, and what community resources our social worker can connect you to.
I don’t know how to explain what’s wrong. Is that a problem?
No. Most people arrive unable to put it into words. That is normal, and part of the job is helping you find them. “I don’t feel right and I don’t know why” is a perfectly good place to start.
Related departments
Speak to someone, 012 798 7000
SA Mental Health Line: 0800 567 567, 24 hours