Zane Wilson, the founder of SADAG, struggled for many years with undiagnosed Panic Disorder, having up to six panic attacks a day. It got so bad that she was unable to drive or even go shopping, according to the group.

After 10 years and many attempts to resolve them, she finally received the correct diagnosis and treatment. Although it was a massive undertaking, with the correct solutions she got better much faster than expected. Thirty years later, disorders like Wilson's are much easier to identify and treat and there are now endless resources that can alleviate people's suffering, the group adds.

Wilson says, "Starting a panic support group over 30 years ago was a huge undertaking. Since then, we opened many support groups for groups and provided many resources that really have achieved amazing steps forward to providing fast support to people living with panic to help them to learn skills."

Clinical Psychologist and SADAG Board Chairperson, Dr Colinda Linde, said, “The state of Mental Healthcare in South Africa was in crisis long before Covid-19 and we need to ensure that Anxiety healthcare is prioritised across all sectors, provinces and ages to help the growing demand for mental health services.”

Throughout July, SADAG will be collaborating with mental health experts and trained individuals to host a powerful series of online events and campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding Anxiety Disorders.

It will be covering the following four topics:
  1. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  2. Panic Disorder
  3. Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, and
  4. Social Phobia.

Cassey Chambers, SADAG's operations director, concludes, "Including the patient's voice is extremely important when talking about anxiety disorders. Having insight from an expert is crucial, but having the voice of a patient who has learned to cope with mental health issues is very important for people to connect and relate."

For more information, visit www.sadag.org. You can also follow SADAG on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.