South African celebrities battling depression opens up after Nelli Tembe’s death
In the wake of AKA’s fiancee Anele “Nellie” Tembe, death several people have taken it to social media to open up about living with mental illness. Well, a host of South African celebrities also weighed into the conversation and shared their battles with depression and other mental related illnesses.
Dr Carolina Odman was the one to first share a Twitter tread and spoke in length about struggling with mental illness. The thread quickly gained the attention of several tweeps who weighed in with their two cents to the matter.
Celebrities like Simphiwe Dana joined the conversation. Several influencers joined the conversation and shared their experiences too. Mel Bala, K Naomi, Brenda Mntambo and Nina Hastie also weighed in with their experiences.
The star celebrities quickly shared their mental illness problems and Mzansi was there to offer help. Afro-Soul singer Simphiwe indicated that she suffers from depression and anxiety.
“I am Simphiwe Dana and I suffer from depression and anxiety. To many I don’t take meds for depression as I fear it will affect my creativity. I do take Stresam for the anxiety,” she wrote.
“Thank you for sharing. I am Melanie Bala and I’ve suffered from depression and post-natal depression. I take medication for my anxiety when it flares up. Let’s destigmatise,” Mel wrote.
South African celebrities battling depression opens up after Nelli Tembe’s death
However, seasoned TV personality K Naomi indicated that she realised that she had minor depression back then in 2018.
“Thank you for sharing. I am Naomi Noinyane and in 2018 I found out I had minor depression but chose not to take meds because I was too scared to be reliant on them. I do although still suffer from anxiety. A therapist and my supportive family are my coping mechanisms,” she wrote.
Nina Hastie was very candid about how manic depression took a toll on her on Sunday. She shared a thread on Twitter about the signs and symptoms of manic depression. Nina offered some counselling and indicated where people can get help.
Afro-soul singer Brenda Mntambo also shared her battle with depression. The star singer opened up on how she survived on medication for anxiety for over a year. She said she’ll title her new album SANE as a reminder that she is well.
“No doubt this is an introduction to my healing process from the pain I have endured in the past. This is me getting up and not allowing it to consume me as it has. It takes courage to open up about this. This is me coming back to myself as I have forgotten who I was and honestly I wasn’t functioning well mentally for some time now. This is me pouring my heart to therapy and claiming my life again,” she wrote.
“MENTAL HEALTH is a real thing. Honestly, I have survived on chronic medication for anxiety for over a year now. I know I have to survive this and get well for myself and also my kids. Well,I decided to name my upcoming album #SANE as a reminder that I am well, that all is well, that I can come out of this pit and live and be happy again,” wrote Brenda.