Another South African Bipolar Linkdump

Did you notice the facelift? Like it? As well as the general layout, we also have a new OLE button for you (eyes left) and if you’d like to use it, please help yourself, or use the code supplied after this paragraph. We’re working on a page of buttons with their codes, but in the meantime just give us a yell. We’ve also added a page of inspirational and interesting quotes, you’re more than welcome to use them on your own blogs. Those of you who have read Ilze’s posts will be glad to know that she’s a regular part of the team now – and we’re delighted to have her. We’re still looking for regular contributors, guest bloggers and new friends (you don’t need to be South African to be any of those things). A very happy and grateful shout out to our current supporters, who have already done so much to help us get our name out there. Without you, the world would be a lonelier place *wipes away single tear*

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Did you ever think that rugby players would be prone to mental health issues? Some of our guys took part in the following survey.

‘Players forced to retire are two & a half times more likely to report mental health problems’ A new study in the European Journal of Sport Science shows professional rugby players need support especially if they’re forced to walk away from the sport.

As if we weren’t desperately short of mental health resources already, here’s another piece of bad news. And given the fact that 75% of the country’s mentally ill receive no help at all, every single loss is a major problem.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) is battling to keep its doors open due to a lack of funding.

And next up is another discouraging news item. I’m sorry to hit you with more bad news in a country full of it, but we know we can’t rely on the government for help. Perhaps it’s time that the haves take a bit more responsibility for the have nots. Because the current situation is inhumane and tragic. It doesn’t necessarily mean forking out cash either, we could volunteer, we could open our eyes to communities beyond the suburbs and assist in any way possible, no matter how small. We have voices and a responsibility to speak up for those who do not.

“Did you know that childhood trauma has a lasting impact on a person’s DNA? Did you know that in South Africa there is exactly one public-sector psychologist and/or psychiatrist for every 300,000 members of the population? Kevin Bloom is led from these considerations into a looming national quandary: do we continue to throw our limited funds and energies at ambiguous concepts like Lead SA and the anti-corruption march, or do we move from such externals onto the tougher ground of the country’s roiling inner life?” The Psyche of the Nation: A report from inside the mind of a public-sector child psychologist.

And now for some hope; an article that draws upon the life of Madiba to back up its theory.

It Always Seems Impossible Until it’s Done (and Why Zero Suicide is Possible, Dammit): “Where do we start?” “Here. We start here and now. We might fall on our butts but we must use “failure” to readjust toward success.”

“I have learnt that stereotypes are a component of stigma. They assign negative attributes to socially salient differences forming what social identity theorists call in-group and out-group categorisation. People tend to stereotype as a means of screening people into either the in-group (us) or out-group (them) which in eventuality determines whether a group is accepted or rejected.” South Africa: Stereotypes From ‘Unsound Mind’ Clauses.

Teacher sacked after 7 years’ sick leave: Durban – A Chatsworth teacher who was dismissed after being on sick leave with full pay for seven years wants his job back. The teacher – whose name is being withheld because he suffers from severe depression and bipolar disorder – said he had booked off sick in the last term of 2006 and had not been back at work since then.

It’d be easy to say, “only in South Africa,” about it, but the truth is, stuff like that happens all over. The next link is from September 2014, but it’s an intriguing read nonetheless, and sadly I couldn’t find any follow up info online.

Bipolar sufferer ‘a threat to society’: “I own a car worth R330 000, but I go to a house to steal two bags of ladies’ clothes?”