Africa Day 2025: Honouring Our Roots, Prioritising Our Mental Health
Africa Day 2025 – 25 May
Honouring Our Roots, Prioritising Our Mental Health
By Vishen Pillay | Wellness Specialist, Varaya Wellness
Africa Day is a powerful reminder of the resilience, culture, and unity that defines our continent.
As we reflect on Africa's journey towards liberation and progress, it’s equally important to address the quieter struggles many Africans continue to face: mental health challenges.
Despite growing awareness, mental illness remains one of the most stigmatized health issues in Africa. Myths and misconceptions—ranging from “it’s just a phase” to harmful beliefs that mental illness is a spiritual punishment—have kept too many people from seeking help. The result? Untreated depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, and burnout that silently erode our communities, workplaces, and families.
The African Mental Health Reality
- Approximately 1 in 4 people globally will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. In Africa, this figure is often higher due to unaddressed trauma, socio-economic stress, and lack of support structures (WHO, 2023)
- Yet, up to 90% of people in low- and middle-income countries—including most African nations—do not receive any form of mental health care (World Health Organization, 2021)
- The continent has an average of 1 psychiatrist per 500,000 people, compared to 1 per 11,000 in Europe (WHO Africa Region, 2022)
- Lack of trained professionals, limited access to care, and cultural stigma are among the key barriers to healing.
At Varaya Wellness, we believe that healing begins with awareness, compassion, and action. As a proudly African organisation, we are committed to transforming the way mental health is perceived and supported in our homes, communities, and workplaces.
Let’s Talk About the Stigma
Mental health stigma isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a societal burden. It leads to:
- Delayed treatment and poor health outcomes.
- Isolation of individuals who are struggling.
- Reduced productivity and increased absenteeism in the workplace.
- A generation of young people suffering in silence.
To break the stigma, we need open conversations, culturally sensitive support systems, and leadership that takes psychological safety as seriously as physical safety.
Practical Ways to Support Mental Wellbeing in Africa
- Normalise conversations about stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression—at work and at home.
- Offer safe spaces and confidential support through counselling and wellness programmes.
- Equip leaders and teams with Mental Health First Aid training to respond with empathy and skill.
- Invest in Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) that support staff across all levels of the organisation.
- Acknowledge the impact of socio-economic stressors, community trauma, and intergenerational pain on mental health.
Our Legacy: Healing, Ubuntu, and Community
Mental health is not a Western concept. African cultures have always honoured communal care, spiritual healing, and holistic balance. At Varaya Wellness, we blend that rich heritage with modern, evidence-based practices to support both individual transformation and organisational resilience.
We offer:
- Corporate wellness programmes
- Mental Health First Aid & psychological safety training
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP)
- Trauma counselling, grief support & burnout interventions
- Leadership coaching & team alignment workshops
A Proudly African Solution
Varaya Wellness is a South African company with a vision to transform workplace mental wellbeing across Africa.
In 2024, we were honoured with the African Excellence Award for Pioneering Excellence in Employee Wellbeing, a testament to our commitment to culturally relevant, high-impact solutions that uplift people and performance.
📩 Let’s talk. Reach out to vishen@varaya.co.za and find out how we can partner with you to break the stigma around mental health, and build a healthier, more compassionate Africa—together!