#MentalHealth #GreenMind
When someone tells us they are struggling, our instinct is often to find an answer. We offer advice, reassurance or solutions. Sometimes, however, what a person needs most is not to be fixed, but to be heard.
For South Africa, where access to mental healthcare remains a significant challenge, listening can be more than an act of kindness. It can be a starting point for support.
The South African Medical Research Council’s Mental Health Investment Case estimates that more than 90% of people who need mental healthcare do not currently receive it. The same research points towards strengthening mental healthcare at primary and community level as part of the solution.
“Community is an important part of mental health support because not every difficult moment starts with knowing exactly what is wrong or knowing who to turn to,” says Luvuyo Maloka from digital health platform, Unu Health. “Feeling unheard, ignored, dismissed, or invalidated over a long period can contribute to mental health challenges. Sometimes, the first step is simply being able to say, I’m not okay, and having someone willing to listen without immediately trying to solve the problem.”
That can be harder than it sounds. Asking for help requires vulnerability, and many people may not know how to begin the conversation. It can help to take away the pressure to have the right words. Saying “I don’t really know what I need, but I haven’t been feeling like myself” or “Can I talk to you about something?” can be enough to open the door.
Additionally, the same applies to checking in with ourselves.
Moreover, we can listen to how we are actually doing.
Digital health platforms increasingly offer tools that allow people to conduct simple mental health check-ins.
They help users better understand what they may be experiencing.
Unu Health, for example, offers a short depression and anxiety screening questionnaire.
It provides an indication of the severity of symptoms and points users towards appropriate next steps.
It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
However, it can help turn an indistinct feeling into something that can be acknowledged and acted upon.
“Knowing where you are is valuable,” says Maloka. “It can give you the confidence to take the next step, whether that means speaking to someone you trust, seeking professional advice or simply recognizing that something needs attention.”
That may be where listening begins.
Additionally, to listen, it is not with an answer, but with curiosity.
Listen when someone says they are struggling.
Listen without judgment.
Ask what they need rather than assuming you know.
And if you are the one struggling, give yourself permission to say so — even if you cannot yet explain why.
Because at Green Family Guide, thriving starts with being heard. Additionally, mental health support does not always begin with a treatment plan. Sometimes it begins with a question, a conversation and someone who is prepared to stay and listen.
Click the links below to take Unu Health’s free screening tests:
