Sadag launches online group support
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has recently launched a mental health support group for heart attack survivors and their families.
This is a first of its kind for Sadag as the support group will host its meetings online.
Sadag is a non-profit organisation that strives to educate patients and their families, as well as the public, on the nature and management of mental illnesses.
The NPO also aims to eliminate the discrimination and stigma that surrounds mental illness, as well as to increase access to high quality care for all South Africans.
Research conducted by Sadag shows that support groups help people cope with and manage a wide variety of mental illnesses through offering ongoing support.
They also provide information on mental illnesses, self-help tips and coping strategies.
Support group leader, Vanessa Smith, initially started the group after experiencing a heart attack in her sleep and finding herself struggling to cope in the aftermath.
“I faced massive lifestyle changes, new medications’ side effects and felt incredibly overwhelmed.
“I searched for a support group for heart attack survivors, with no luck,” Smith said.
“I decided to start a group where the only prerequisite for joining the group is to have either suffered from a heart attack, be at risk of heart attack or be a family member who wants to learn to support a loved one who has had a heart attack.”
The process of joining the support group online is simple.
When requesting to join the group, Smith, or a Sadag representative, will do a screening to ensure you are suitable.
You will then receive a link to a Zoom meeting where you are free to talk about any issues pertaining to your mental health and heart attack struggles.