In Conversation with Radisha Sukhlal, Manager Mental Health Services, Gauteng Department of Health.

as the month of October, marked as Mental Health Awareness Month, draws to a close, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) urges communities to continue conversations about mental health, challenge stigma and support people experiencing mental health challenges. Guided by the theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” the Department emphasises the importance of listening to people with lived experiences of mental health conditions and ensuring their voices contribute to improving care and support. Factors such as unemployment, financial hardship, gender-based violence and substance abuse can affect mental well-being.