Depression is a silent condition, and it’s a growing problem affecting one in 10 South Africans.

Sibongile, 33, a teacher in Pietermaritzburg loves her work, but the conditions get her down: “There’s so much poverty, and the cycle just continues… But there are still those students who make it all worthwhile,” she stresses. Two years ago, however, Sibongile didn’t see it that way – she almost quit, caught in the grips of depression.

“My problem was that the stress didn’t stop when I got home,” she explains. She was studying part-time and keeping home for her boyfriend. “I felt I had to be the strong one – I was the successful one in the family so I didn’t feel I could complain.”

Most people don’t mention it at all when they see a doctor, says Johannesburg psychiatrist Dr Mvuyiso Talatala. It’s only when a doctor asks, “How are things at home?’ or “Is the job going well?” that the real problem comes out.

This was the case with Sibongile: she started crying for no reason and suffering heart palpitations. When she blacked out one day, she finally saw a doctor: “ He told me it was an anxiety attack – one of the signs of depression!” After speaking to him, she realised she had other symptoms, too: feelings of pressure, sadness and tiredness. “He said if I didn’t do something about it, I would have a breakdown!” she remembers.

Today, Sibongile has a new boyfriend and a better position at school. “ I feel I am moving forward. I just wish I had got help sooner!”

Watch out for these signs
A degree of stress is normal and motivates us to achieve goals, says psychologist Justine Bartlett. But if the following signs persist for more than a couple of weeks, and have no obvious cause, you could be suffering from depression. Even if you think you’re coping, get help!

• You’re irritable, erupting irrationally even against those close to you.
• Small things get you down.
• You neglect your work or appearance.
• You act the driven perfectionist when you’re usually laid-back.
• You smoke, drink and take drugs more often.
• You’re accident prone.
• You struggle to sleep or you sleep all the time.
• You have no appetite or eat too much.
• You cry for no reason.
• You are anxious or breathless all the time.
• You struggle to let go of worries.

Help is at hand
While clinical depression is a medical problem, things like stressful living/working conditions, and relationship problems can make it worse. So can financial and health problems, such as HIV/Aids. Then there are factors like a family history of depression, or a lack of life-skills and supportive family and friends.

For help:

• SADAG: 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393
• Lifeline: 0861 322 322
• Mental Health Information Centre: 021 938 9229