It can be a terrible shock when the child you carried and birthed suddenly finds a new favourite: daddy. And while the daddy phase is typical, it can be off-putting for primary caregiving moms to learn that despite all their constant love and care, they’re not their little
Over the past year, grief and loss have become an unwelcome and consistent presence in our lives because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Where previously we would experience grief every now and then, it has never been as unrelenting as the grief Covid-19 has brought
World Health Day was founded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness about our overall health and well-being. As we celebrate this day again, we cannot ignore how we think of, prioritise and navigate the issue of mental health. Very often when we
In 2020, mental health accounted for 19% of Sanlam’s disability claims – up 11% from 2019. The increase is consistent with findings that COVID-19 has caused a global mental health crisis. People are stressed, anxious and grieving. Lockdowns and loss have magnified depression. In a
The discussion was facilitated by the highly esteemed media maverick and current ‘Talk Radio 702’ presenter, Refiloe Mpakanyane, who was joined by all-star panellists. These included: “Swaggy School Teacher,” Sibusiso Masombuka; Occupational Therapist, founder of Nanny ‘n Me and co-founder of Play Sense, Lara Schoenfeld;
“In a deeply unequal society like South Africa, the COVID-19 virus has laid bare an existing mental healthcare service gap and the shocking public health crisis in the country.” These are the reflections of Dr Marion Morkel, Sanlam’s Chief Medical Officer, who also shares how
Many people, the world over, are experiencing grief and loss during the current global health pandemic. With millions having contracted the virus and millions more who have lost their lives, the past year has been an overwhelming time characterised by fear and anxiety. In South
As the world marks September 1 today as World Letter Writing Day, experts have encouraged more handwriting because it is therapeutic. In an era of texts, e-mails and SMSes, handwriting and sending letters and post cards seems to be a forgotten culture. Psychologists still believe
This June marks the 45th anniversary of the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, where children lost their lives while standing up against the apartheid government for the right to equal education. Decades later, every youth month, a vital question remains: Have we made strides in
The COVID-19 pandemic might be just a vague concept for younger kids, but some children will feel fearful about the virus. They may be scared of getting sick, and in particular worried about how it might affect their grandparents. As well as worrying about the
