A group of learners from Langa High School converged at Guga Sthebe Arts and Cultural Centre on Thursday 17 February for a special event to empower them about mental illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gathering was organised by motivational speaker Bantu Zotwana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 42-year-old was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17 in 1997 and says he was severely affected by the condition. He now wants to help young people so that they do not fall in the same trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zotwana said the aim is to create awareness about mental illness and other health matter in general in communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about his illness he said it was the most difficult time of his life but with the support of his family members he managed to recover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned learners about peer pressure citing that it can cost them their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17 in 1997. I was smoking drugs and using alcohol. And at that time I didn\u2019t care about anyone, but my family noticed that there was something wrong with me. They took me to a rehabilitation centre,\u201d said Zotwana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated that if anybody needs help he or she must accept that he has a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany families have fallen apart because they are accusing each other of witchcraft. Many people particularly in black communities are not well informed about depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and so on. Once a person starts to have these illnesses people think that they have a calling,\u201d he said and advised people to consult professional doctors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He highlighted some of the symptoms of schizophrenia as delusions, hallucination, disorganised thinking or speech, fatigue, memory loss. He also urged learners to stop bullying each other at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khaya Tanda, a teacher at the school, described the event as educational. He said it\u2019s time for schools to forge a relationship with health care workers so that when a learner has a problem they can be able to refer to a particular person for professional assistance. He mentioned depression as a challenge to many learners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe background of the learner affects him or her in the studies. Some learners are coming from families where there is domestic violence or one of the parents is alcoholic. And that affects the learner in her studies,\u201d said Tanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grade 9 learner Luvuyo Qithi (15) described the awareness as an eye opener. He said he didn\u2019t know about schizophrenia. \u201cWe were encouraged to support each other and stop laughing at one another. If there is something that you don\u2019t understand about anyone take him or her to the professional doctor for examination. And also we need to open up and talk about what is bothering us,\u201d said Qithi. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A group of learners from Langa High School converged at Guga Sthebe Arts and Cultural Centre on Thursday 17 February for a special event to empower them about mental 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