Jenna 0:03
Hello and welcome to Ease in Mzansi . I’m Jenna Solomon, and this is the podcast where we spotlight mental health support groups that can help us cope with the all too personal impact of South Africa’s big socio-economic issues. You
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the South African Depression and Anxiety Group has over 170 support groups running around the country, including around 11 related to socio- economic issues. But as I explore in episodes on diversity and inclusion, there are still so many groups that are needed. This year, SADAG hosted its annual Support Group Leader Training between May and July. H oping to start my own support group I joined in.
Unknown Speaker 0:57
Good morning everybody.
Unknown Speaker 0:59
Thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2 1:02
We are so so excited to have you all with us. Today, we are doing an introduction to SADAG and support groups. So who is SADAG ? So SADAG is the South African Depression and Anxiety Group. We are a registered NPO, a leading voice of patient advocacy, education and de-stigmatization in the mental health sector. SADAG was established 30 years ago by our founder, Zane Wilson, and it was initially established as a support group.
Jenna 1:34
Each week, we’re sent a short questionnaire about topics covered in the presentation. Some of them are practicalities, like setting group rules while others are about communication and facilitation skills, briefly explain the difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy can
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at the end of the six weeks, we’re also asked to fill out a questionnaire about the type of group we’d like to start. If you don’t want to start a SADAG group, you don’t have to fill out the form. You can simply do the training with SADAG and start a support group in your own organization or community. That said, there are benefits to working under the SADAG umbrella,
Speaker 2 2:21
we offer debriefing assistance in finding a venue or securing a venue. We can organize special guest speakers, training, a weekly support reviews, letter assistance in finding a sponsor for items like tea and coffee, media awareness, ongoing telephonic advice and support through our call center, our support group leader, weekly connect sessions, connect with your fellow support group leaders to get guidance, support input. Perhaps there’s something difficult happening in your group.
Unknown Speaker 2:52
It really is a wonderful opportunity to connect.
Jenna Solomon 2:55
After the theory came two practical sessions. These were simulated support groups led by an established support group leader and a SADAG support group coordinator. As trainees, the 15 of us in the session were expected to participate as support group members. For instance, in the two groups I attended, we spoke about negative thinking patterns and divorce. Next to wait a year if your application to start a SADAG group had been accepted. So while about 700 people signed up, only about 70 people actually complete the training and are accepted as support group leaders. “Dear, interested support group leader, we’re delighted to inform you that, having gone through your application form, we would be so pleased to have you as part of our SADAG Support Group Leader family. So if you’re accepted as a SADAG support group leader, it’s time to fill out another little form about the SADAG group you’d like to start and lays the SADAG about the logistics. Six months after starting the group, you’ll receive a certificate from SADAG. If you missed this year’s live training, it’s not too late. You can take the training in your own time, year round. And that’s it, from Ease in Mzansi , if you would like to start support group training, you’ll find SADAG’s details in the show notes. We’ve also got an episode on why you should start a support group that you can check out to get support with a mental health condition. You can contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group’s counseling hotline on 0 800-560-7567
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That’s it from Ease in Mzansi. As we like to say here in South Africa, “sterkte en hou vas”, Hamba khale, chat again next time.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai