When Zane Wilson suffered from debilitating panic attacks she embarked on a journey to find a lasting solution. This later resulted in the establishment of a life-changing organization called SADAG. Since 1994, The South African Depression and Anxiety Group has saved and changed the lives of millions. This is her personal story.
A Personal Quest Became a 30-year Journey of Triumph for SADAG
As I sit down to pen this reflection, I am filled with a profound sense of honor and pride as the founder of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my quest for relief from severe panic attacks would culminate in the establishment of an organization now celebrating its 30th year. This milestone is not just a testament to the organization’s resilience and growth but also a personal triumph and a collective achievement.
How panic attacks led to providing meaningful support for many in need
The journey began in the spring of 1994, a period of transformation and hope brought by President Nelson Mandela. My battle with undiagnosed panic disorder, spanning over a decade, was nearing its end. As a busy sales and marketing director, I initially thrived under pressure.
However, I soon found myself overwhelmed by panic attacks. Despite consulting numerous medical professionals, my condition, which escalated from a few attacks a week to several daily, remained unexplained. My life became so restricted that I couldn’t drive, shop, or even be alone.
I feared sharing my experiences, worrying that others would think I was crazy. For ten years, I had no diagnosis or explanation for my condition. This was despite undergoing various medical tests and consulting specialists locally and abroad.
Living with undiagnosed Panic Disorder for over a decade was a harrowing experience. For those familiar with panic attacks, the terror and debilitation they bring are all too real. My attacks escalated from a few per week to several daily, accompanied by sweaty palms, chills, and uncontrollable shakes.
These symptoms became so overwhelming that I could no longer perform simple tasks like shopping or even staying home alone. Despite holding a demanding job as a director of an information company, I was on an unending quest for a diagnosis and treatment
A nationwide mental health support solution
Eventually, Professor Mike Berk at Wits University diagnosed me with panic disorder. He reassured me that I wasn’t going crazy but had a treatable illness. Within weeks of starting medication, I felt better. Realizing the struggle others must face in finding help, I became determined to support those suffering in silence.
This personal victory inspired me to help others. I founded a small Panic Disorder Support Group. We met at the Sandton Library and attracted people from as far away as Witbank and Siyabuswa. Today, SADAG has grown into Africa’s largest diverse mental health NGO. It’s a journey made possible by the unwavering support and dedication of many.
Mental health issues can affect anyone, and it’s crucial to ensure that those suffering know they are not alone. SADAG provides therapy, medication, support groups, and self-help techniques. Our helplines and WhatsApp chatlines, staffed by care-trained counsellors, are always available to offer resources and support.
The need for more awareness
Reflecting on SADAG’s journey, I am reminded of the societal need for mental health awareness. This became glaringly apparent during my own struggles. In 1994, the same year South Africa embraced democracy under President Nelson Mandela, SADAG was born out of a pressing need to destigmatize mental illness and provide accessible support. Starting with a single helpline in my dining room, SADAG has expanded to over thirty toll-free helplines and numerous projects. This is thanks to the collaboration of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers and volunteers.
Providing hope by ensuring critical mental health support
Despite our growth, we still struggle with some fundamental core challenges: stigma, lack of resources, and isolation for those with mental illness. SADAG’s mission has always been to combat these issues, creating a supportive environment and making mental health care more accessible. Our resilience, fuelled by personal experience and community support, has kept the organization afloat through financial challenges. Early supporters like Lundbeck, Pfizer, the World Bank, and Saatchi played pivotal roles in our journey.
The Speaking Book
SADAG’s impact has extended to educational tools like the Speaking Book®, designed for low-literacy communities, and initiatives like counselling containers in Diepsloot and Ivory Park, serving thousands monthly. Our advocacy work has led to significant achievements, including treatment cover for bipolar disorder and involvement in the Life Esidimeni tragedy. Some of our biggest achievements are the millions of people that we have managed to help and support through our Helplines over the years with counselling and crisis intervention.
As well as visiting thousands of Schools across the country and speaking to over a million learners and teachers about important topics of Teen Suicide Prevention, Depression, Substance Abuse and Grief.
End note
Fundraising remains a constant effort, supported by corporations, individuals, and collaborative ventures with athletes who share their mental health journeys. The continued growth and support for SADAG are a testament to the collective dedication of countless individuals.
As we celebrate this milestone, looking forward, my wish is for the organization to continue growing, impacting lives, and prioritizing mental health across all sectors. The journey is far from over. I am excited about the future and committed to making Mental Health Matter throughout Africa and beyond. Here’s to the next chapter in SADAG’s inspiring Mental Health journey.
Main photo credit: Photo by Aaron Burden/Pexels
About the author
Zane M Wilson is the Founder of SADAG (The South African Depression and Anxiety Group).
Zane Wilson
In 2012, Zane Wilson was honored by President Zuma with the Order of the Baobab, South Africa’s highest civilian award for her “outstanding contribution as an entrepreneur, mental health care practitioner, and a leader in the struggle to create awareness against diseases such as depression and anxiety and her contribution in the formation of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group”.
She was born in England and moved to South Africa where she distinguished herself as a highly successful entrepreneur. Zane started Top Girl, South Africa’s first female executive placement agency. This model, which proved so successful, was acquired by a major employment agency.
This was followed by a number of highly profitable startups including SA’s first professional Sports Marketing and Management Company, which was subsequently acquired by IMG and the Gary Player Group, followed by the formation of an international business information company, and a teleconferencing company.
In 1994 Zane established her mental health initiative, The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), now Africa’s largest and most recognized support and advocacy group.
SADAG is a support network for South Africans with mental health problems, focused both in urban and rural areas. With mental health being such a serious challenge for South Africa and the world, and with estimates that one in five people will or do suffer from a mental illness,
Her initiative has brought mental health education and care to underprivileged communities in rural South Africa. SADAG assists people who suffer from mental disorders such as depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar, social anxiety and generalized anxiety disorders.
Providing Support for communities in need
Wilson has led teams to work in areas with no psychiatrist assistance for millions of people, capacitating people to deal with depression, HIV and AIDS and assisting dejected people in preventing suicides. SADAG has initiated the training of Home-based Care Workers and Caregivers regarding various HIV & AIDS related issues, such as depression and trauma
Through this work, they have established over 200 rural support groups. It has over 40,000 patients, many support groups, and a voluntary Scientific and Advisory Board of 9 professionals who ensures that the largest mental health group in Africa continues to succeed.
Suicide shouldn’t be a secret
The World Bank funded its program, “Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret,” to reduce South Africa’s high rate of teen suicide. The program has been running in schools for teachers and learners across the country. To date, this program has visited over 550 schools with 10 trained counselors visiting each school to reach 1 million school children, on a classroom by classroom basis.
SADAG teaches youth that depression is treatable and suicide is preventable. SADAG offers 16 toll-free suicide crisis and support lines and works with suicidal callers, providing counseling and referrals. It also does extensive work in the corporate sector with Employee Assistance Programmes training, corporate talks, and employee wellness days.
The Speaking Book
In 2005, Zane Wilson identified the need for a health education tool in place of brochures and leaflets that are often incomphensible and are discarded. As a result she conceived the idea of “The Speaking Book”, to enable low level literacy communities to receive vital health care messages and promote literacy. The books serve as an interactive, multi-lingual tool that engages readers of all abilities, enabling them to see, read, hear, and understand the content. They address mental health issues such as Depression and Suicide, along with conditions like HIV and AIDS, TB, Malaria, Substance Abuse, and Dementia.
The Speaking Book, created as an affordable African solution for an African problem, is now being used throughout the world by the major pharmaceuticals companies, NGO’s and governments and endorsed by USAID, UNICEF, CDC, WMA, Johns Hopkins and others as a major resource for low literacy health education. The Speaking Book has also won a number of international awards.
Training and development
With a permanent staff complement of just 6, complemented by many volunteers, this organization demonstrates a very great commitment to serving the communities in South Africa. SADAG has 4 intakes a year interviewing and training 100 counselors at a time to assist in the call center and outreach programs. Many of these counselors rely on this practical experience and training and SADAG references for acceptance for post graduate Masters and Phd university courses.
Woman of the Year
Zane has received numerous awards including;
- South African Woman of the Year for Health (1998)
- World Health Organization and Federation of Mental Health’s Award
- World Bank Marketplace Winner for 2003
- Finalist for the Pan African Health Awards 2006
In 2011, the South African Institute of Health Care Managers (SAIHCM) recognized Zane as one of the Top 10 Influential Leaders in Health Care in South Africa. Until recently, she served as the SA Selection Board Chairman for mental health journalism at the Rosalynn Carter Foundation in Atlanta.
SADAG’s work has also been endorsed by;
- The World Bank
- SA Department of Health
- SA Department of Education, Johns Hopkins
- US Embassy
- De Beers
- World Federation for Mental Health
- The World Health Organization
- EU
- Department of Social Development and the Global Fund.
Turning struggle into a triumph
Zane’s recognition for her work in mental health awareness and support:
- South African Women of the Year for Health (1998)
- World Health Organization (2003)
- Federation for Mental Health (2003)
- World Bank Marketplace (2003)
- Finalist – Pan African Health Awards (2006)
- Recognised as one of the Top Influential Leaders in Health Care in South Africa by the South African Institute of Health Care Managers (2011)
- South African Selection Board Chairman for the Roslynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism (2004)
- Order of the Baobab (2012)
