Sadag helpline calls double after lockdown

CALL volumes to the SA Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag) helplines doubled after the initial lockdown announcement. It’s been a year since the lockdown was announced and more than 500 000 people have called since then seeking help.

During 2020 the world was thrown into a new way of living due to Covid19 and with that came many changes that hardly anyone was prepared for, resulting in high levels of stress and compromised immune systems.

Sadag operations director Cassey Chambers said: “From the beginning of lockdown our call volumes doubled to 1 200 calls a day. We’re now dealing with 1 400-plus calls each day, excluding emails, SMSes and WhatsApp appeals for help. The reasons that people have reached out for help have varied – the top issues include anxiety and stress, financial problems, depression, grief/loss and suicide.”

Sadag received 501 412 calls for help between March 2020 and February 2021 and an additional 101 387 suicide helpline calls.

Chambers said the NGO had received more than 6 000 SMSes and more than 26 000 WhatsApp messages during the same period. “As lockdown was extended and lasted longer than anticipated, the impact of Covid-19 touched on every aspect of our lives. People were losing their jobs, worried about where to stay, dealing with trauma and increased anxiety.

“Since the beginning of 2021 … it was a very difficult start for many. With the second wave of infections and high death toll, we were receiving more calls related to grief, loss, financial issues and anxiety … work, finances, relationships, schooling.”

Women accounted for the bulk of calls. “Females are better at help-seeking behaviour for themselves, and at calling on behalf of a loved one. However, male callers to our helplines are more serious cases that often need crisis intervention and support. Men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women.”